Study: Kids with COVID but no symptoms play key role in household spread A study today in Clinical Infectious Diseases conducted across 12 tertiary care pediatric hospitals in Canada and the United States shows that asymptomatic children with COVID-19, especially preschoolers, contribute significantly to household transmission. CIDRAP

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The researchers discovered that 10.6% of exposed household contacts developed symptomatic illness within 14 days of exposure to asymptomatic test-positive children, a rate higher than expected.

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FDA OKs Invivyd's COVID preventive Pemgarda for emergency use The pre-exposure treatment is indicated for adolescents and adults with moderate-to-severe immunocompromising conditions. CIDRAP

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on March 22 granted emergency use authorization (EUA) for Invivyd's monoclonal antibody to prevent COVID-19 in immunocompromised patients, which fills a gap following the withdrawal of Evusheld in January 2023.

New data show Paxlovid outperforms molnupiravir against severe COVID-19 outcomes A large study yesterday in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases shows that, if prescribed within 5 days of confirmed infection, Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir-ritonavir) is more effective in protecting against all-cause mortality and severe COVID-19 in adults than is molnupiravir, another antiviral drug. CIDRAP

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Flu linked to greater risk for neurological disorders than COVID-19, study shows - UPI.com The flu is more likely to lead to a neurological disorder than COVID-19, according to a new study that surprised its authors. UPI

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After four years with Covid-19, the US is settling into a new approach to respiratory virus season | CNN With the arrival of spring, the United States is easing out of respiratory virus season, a familiar pattern that has been challenged by Covid-19 for the past four years. Deidre McPhillips CNN

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Experts say that focused planning and forecasting efforts helped avoid some of the worst-case scenarios. But there was still a significant number of severe outcomes, and there are still key areas of improvement – especially around vaccination.

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Young and old: how the Covid pandemic has affected every UK generation From children behind on milestones to less active older people, broader effects are being felt four years after the initial outbreak The Guardian

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