Next Wave Outbreak – Pandemic Pondering

The Thanksgiving triple play: RSV, Flu and COVID discussed on Flashpoint November 20th at 10:00 AM

Dear loyal readers of pandemicpondering.com. I am back from a week of crossing the country for two professional meetings and for better or worse I can assure everyone that wearing masks on airplanes is passe’! I will be writing a post about what we have to be thankful for this week, but in the meanContinue reading “The Thanksgiving triple play: RSV, Flu and COVID discussed on Flashpoint November 20th at 10:00 AM”

I didn’t believe anything about COVID could upset me anymore until I heard about these folks at Boston University…

The news came out that there was an experiment at Boston University to try to make a potentially more lethal SARS-CoV-2 omicron virus. On face value this seems like an incredibly stupid idea, but with more investigation, it’s actually worse than that! There is a federal biodefense lab at Boston University (National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratory)Continue reading “I didn’t believe anything about COVID could upset me anymore until I heard about these folks at Boston University…”

The new booster shots discussed on Flashpoint September 11th at 10:00 AM

Dear loyal readers of pandemicpondering.com. I am back from my first international meeting since 2019! During the interim the government has finalized plans for the new COVID-19 boosters. I will be posting on them next week, but will discuss them this Sunday at 10:00AM EDT on Flashpoint with Devin Scillian on WDIV (channel 4) inContinue reading “The new booster shots discussed on Flashpoint September 11th at 10:00 AM”

Discussion on ongoing COVID-19 deaths on Flashpoint tomorrow June 26th at 10:00 AM

To loyal readers of pandemicpondering.com. Tomorrow, I discuss the ongoing reports of deaths and COVID-19 infections. The conversation will take place at 10:00AM EDT on Flashpoint with Devin Scillian on WDIV (channel 4) in Detroit. This dialogue is important since interpreting deaths associated with COVID can be confusing. Given the changes in COVID infections andContinue reading “Discussion on ongoing COVID-19 deaths on Flashpoint tomorrow June 26th at 10:00 AM”

Discussion on the new wave of COVID-19 infections on Flashpoint tomorrow May 15th at 10:00 AM

To loyal readers of pandemicpondering.com. Tomorrow, I discuss the current increase of COVID-19 infections and how to manage our response to this situation. The conversation will take place at 10:00AM EDT on Flashpoint with Devin Scillian on WDIV (channel 4) in Detroit. This dialogue is particularly important since the immunological landscape has changed and mayContinue reading “Discussion on the new wave of COVID-19 infections on Flashpoint tomorrow May 15th at 10:00 AM”

Discussion on the new wave of COVID-19 infections on Flashpoint tomorrow May 15th at 10:00 AM

Omicron — the tale of two surges.

The explosive surge of COVID-19 infections caused by the Omicron variant is quickly waning across the United States. New infections have dropped dramatically in all parts of the country including areas that only recently were confronted with variant. Despite this, hospitals still house large numbers of ill individuals. While a smaller percentage of COVID patientsContinue reading “Omicron — the tale of two surges.”

COVID-19 virus BA.2; what is it and why the claim it is more infectious than omicron?

Yesterday the media was flooded with reports about a new variant of omicron designated BA.2. While this virus is almost identical to omicron it is differentiated genetically based on a few mutations in its spike protein. Ominously, this virus was reported to be present around the world including throughout the US. This was confirmed by theContinue reading “COVID-19 virus BA.2; what is it and why the claim it is more infectious than omicron?”

Unfounded concerns about Omicron hospitalizations in children?

Last night NBC’s network news reported “record numbers” of children in hospitals with COVID-19 since Omicron came to the United States. Physicians from Children’s Hospital of New Orleans, Texas Children’s Hospital, and University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital in Cleveland all alluded to sharp increases in children with serious COVID-19 infections. In contrast, Dr.Continue reading “Unfounded concerns about Omicron hospitalizations in children?”

What to do when you get COVID infected.

The harsh reality of the next few months is that almost all the population will be exposed to COVID-19. Even worse, with the remarkable infectivity of the Omicron virus, all unvaccinated and a significant percentage of vaccinated will get COVID-19. So, in many ways it’s not a question of if, but when? Many more peopleContinue reading “What to do when you get COVID infected.”