China reports sharp drop in new cases, but doubts re-emerge over data
The Hubei province at the center of the novel coronavirus outbreak reported a steep drop in new cases. However, another change in how China diagnoses infections raised concerns about the reliability of the data. The China death toll tops 2,000 and cases top 75,000. Initially, Chinese authorities were using nucleic acid tests to confirm virus presence, but those tests require days of processing and led to nucleic acid shortages. The Hubei province introduced a faster diagnostic method last week through CT scans to reveal lung infections and confirm the virus, leading to a sharp increase in cases. However, on Wednesday, authorities said they were removing that category of clinically diagnosed cases from their criteria of confirmed cases, resulting in 279 cases being removed from the Hubei count. Read more here.
Researchers find coronavirus “spike” protein, potentially leading way to vaccine
Researchers at the University of Texas (UT) (Austin, TX) have assessed the molecular structure of a key protein that the novel coronavirus uses to invade human cells, potentially leading to the development of a vaccine. Previous research revealed that coronaviruses invade cells through so-called “spike” proteins, but those proteins are shaped differently in different coronaviruses. Determining the shape of the spike protein in this novel coronavirus is key to understanding how to target the virus. The spike protein is the primary surface protein the virus uses to bind to a receptor, which is another protein that acts as an entry into a human cell. To target the spike protein, scientists must know how it appears. Researchers at UT, collaborating with NIH, used the published genome of the novel coronavirus to identify the specific genes that code for the spike protein. Read more here.
Expert warns of mass U.S. medicine shortages by mid-March if COVID-19 continues to ravage China
Rosemary Gibson wrote the book, “China Rx: Exposing the Risks of America’s Dependence on China for Medicine,” and she predicts the U.S. will see shortages of medicines by mid-March if conditions do not vastly improve in China due to coronavirus. “We should never have been in this situation,” Gibson told WCNC (Charlotte, NC). “All roads lead to China in the core ingredients, the chemicals, the molecules – the real starting material to make our medicines. China’s dominance is global. The Europeans are in the same situation, [and] the Australians, Canadians. I’m speaking mostly generic medicines, which are 90% of the medicines we take.” Read more of Gibson’s opinions here.
Drugmakers in India particularly vulnerable to shortages due to coronavirus
Drugmakers in India, which produce 20% of the world’s drug supply by volume, are bracing for potential disruption from the coronavirus. The outbreak threatens to disrupt the supply of raw materials from China. Enough supplies are currently on hand to continue production, but operations could be threatened if the outbreak continues to cause disruption in China. Approximately 70% of the raw materials India uses in drug manufacturing are imported from China, and the Hubei province is a major production hub. India is the world’s largest exporter of generic drugs, sending large volumes to the U.S. It’s estimated that companies that make anti-infective and hormone therapies are most at risk from material shortages. Read more here.
Two passengers die after leaving quarantined Japanese cruise ship
Two passengers with COVID-19, who were on board the quarantined Diamond Princess cruise ship off the coastline of Japan, have died. Thirteen more coronavirus cases were confirmed on the ship Thursday, bringing the total number of cases on the ship to 634. The two deaths are the first connected to the cruise ship, which at one point had approximately 3,700 passengers and crew. The two passengers were a couple, a man and woman in their 80s and Japanese nationals. The man was taken off the cruise ship on Feb. 11 and the woman was removed Feb. 12 after testing positive for the coronavirus. Passengers and crew who were quarantined on the cruise ship for around two weeks have begun to disembark. Princess Cruises, operator of the Diamond Princess, said that about 600 passengers have been cleared by the Japanese health ministry to off board the ship. Read more updates here.
COVID-19 may spread through fecal transmission
The novel coronavirus, COVID-19, may spread through feces, scientists believe. The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CCDC) has published a report that states the virus has been found in the stool of COVID-19 patients from the northeastern Chinese province of Heilongjiang. Close contact and respiratory droplets remain the most common routes of transmission, but they do not appear to account for all cases or the rapid spread of the virus. The scientists said this led them to believe the virus can be transmitted through fecal matter if the hands, food or water are contaminated. “This virus has many routes of transmission, which can partially explain its strong transmission and fast transmission speed,” the report stated. Read more here.
More coronavirus resources from The Journal of Healthcare Contracting:
- Day-by-day Timeline of major events
- FAQ/Insights – Helpful and relevant links to help you keep track of the ongoing epidemic