Category: Infectious Diseases
Does a Mask Protect You If No One Else Is Wearing One?
As schools and cities and counties begin to drop their mask mandates, some people are rushing to take the masks off, but others still want that protection. So how effective is your mask if you’re the only person wearing one? Dr. Emily Sickbert-Bennett, associate professor of infectious diseases and director of infection prevention at UNC Medical Center, explained the issue in a C … Read more
Pfizer’s Vaccine Targeting Omicron Comes Out in March. This Is Why You Shouldn’t Wait For It
Joe Eron, MD, the Herman and Louise Smith Distinguished Professor of Medicine, and chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases was interviewed for a CBS-17 new report about a vaccine that specifically targets the omicron variant. Read more.
Department of Medicine Faculty Featured in School of Medicine 2021 Annual Research Report
As we all desperately await a way to treat COVID-19, beyond prevention, the following publication has metrics that are incredible (following February publication, by December 2021 it had been accessed >107K times with a >1700 Altimetric).
Department of Medicine Grants & Funding: February 1 – February 28, 2022
Division of Infectious Diseases David L. Rosen, MD, PhD, MSPH, received a $580,000 Duke Endowment Award to compare the impact of transition-to-care service programs on healthcare utilization and mortality among people with chronic health conditions released from the NC state prison system. Division of Oncology Brian C. Miller, MD, PhD, received a $700,000 Burroughs Wellcome Grant … Read more
Margolis Elected Fellow to the American Association for the Advancement of Science
David Margolis, MD, Sarah Graham Keenan Distinguished Professor of Medicine, Microbiology & Immunology, Epidemiology, has been elected fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). The prestigious honor recognizes distinguished contributions to the field of virology, particularly for making key discoveries on the mechanisms of HIV latency and devis … Read more
Fading Hope of Herd Immunity, Omicron May Be Nearing Peak, and Vaccines On the Way–Do We Need Them? Dr. David Wohl Discusses These Topics In News the Week of January 14 – January 20
David Wohl, MD, professor of medicine in the division of infectious diseases, was a featured expert in the following news stories about COVID, the week of January 14 – January 20. How Omicron Highlights Fading Hope of Herd Immunity from COVID – (KSFO-AM) May be nearing Omicron peak, UNC doctor says; so what’s next? – (ABC11) North Carolina continues to see COVID-19 cases, hospita … Read more
Officials Encourage COVID-19 Vaccination as Orange County Faces Omicron Surge
Emily Sickbert-Bennett, PhD, MS, was featured in a Daily Tar Heel article that urges community members to get vaccinated as omicron cases rise in Orange County and UNC students return to campus. Read the article.
Increased COVID Hospitalization Numbers May Not Tell Full Story, When to Get a COVID Test, How to Treat Your Results, and Don’t Try to Get COVID On Purpose
During the week of January 7 – January 13, infectious disease experts from the Department of Medicine were featured in the following news stories. If you caught Covid-19 over the holidays, here’s what you need to know – Dr. David Wohl (CNN) Coronavirus omicron updates: Here’s what to know in North Carolina on Jan. 7 – Dr. David Wohl (News & Observer) When to get a COVID test … Read more
‘Silver Lining’ of Omicron: More Hospital Patients But Fewer in Intensive Care, and Other COVID News Featuring Infectious Diseases Experts the Week of December 31 – January 6.
The following clickable headlines link directly to outside media outlets, which feature UNC Department of Medicine faculty during the week of December 31, 2021 – January 6, 2022. The ‘silver lining’ of omicron: More hospital patients but fewer in intensive care – Dr. David Wohl (The News & Observer) Health experts stress the best protection depends on the mask you’re wearing … Read more
Would a 4th Dose of COVID Vaccine Wear Out Your Immune System? No, and Here’s Why Not
A CBS-17 report recognizes a hospital in Israel studying the safety and effectiveness of a second booster dose for some medical workers who got their last shot at least four months ago. One of the key concerns raised by the fourth-dose concept is that it might cause more harm than good by wearing out the immune system. But doctors say this shouldn’t be much of a concern at all. “ … Read more
NC Shatters Record High COVID-19 Daily Positivity Rate, Tweens Have the Highest Case Rate, a New Drug to Prevent COVID, and What to Know As Omicron Spreads
Faculty from the division of infectious diseases were featured in the following COVID news stories the week of December 24 – December 30. NC shatters record high COVID-19 daily positivity rate in first metric update since holiday weekend – Dr. David Wohl (ABC11) Tweens, 10-14, have highest COVID case rate in the state – Dr. David Wohl (WRAL) It took a major effort to deliver the … Read more
Weber, Wohl Answer Media Questions About Omicron, Testing, Herd Immunity and Preparations By Local Universities
Do the fully vaccinated need a COVID test if exposed or sick? David Weber, MD, MPH, and David Wohl, MD, answered this question and more during the week of December 17-23. The following clickable headlines link directly to outside media outlets. Arkansas’ low vaccination rate setting up omicron surge, experts say – Dr. David Wohl (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette) Some COVID-19 treatment … Read more