The Covid-19 pandemic has been challenging for everyone this past year, but there was light at the end of the tunnel with the arrival of nationwide vaccine programmes. However, there were also concerns that this game-changing preventive measure might pose a risk to people with serious allergies..
In the UK, regulators had banned those with a history of severe allergic reactions to medicines, food and vaccines from taking the Pfizer/BioNtech vaccine after two reports of life-threatening responses.
“According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people should get vaccinated even if they have a history of severe allergic reactions unrelated to vaccines or injectable medications, such as food, pet, venom, environmental or latex allergies,” explains Dr Marilyn R. Karam, MD, Consultant Allergist and Immunologist at American Hospital Dubai.
Covid-19: UAE doctors warn about link between diabetes, virus infection
Nandini Sircar/Dubai
File photo
Studies have reportedly confirmed that coronavirus can target and weaken the body s insulin-producing cells
Doctors in the UAE are warning that there is emerging evidence pointing towards a relationship between diabetes and acute Covid-19 infection.
Two new NIH-supported studies reportedly confirm that SARS-CoV-2 can target and weaken the body’s insulin-producing cells.
The latest findings build on earlier studies done to discover more about the connection between Covid-19 and diabetes.
Dr Anil Kumar, consultant endocrinologist and diabetologist, Prime Hospital, says, “There is plenty of evidence to suggest that coronavirus might cause diabetes in some people or worsen pre-existing diabetes in others. I have seen a recent increase in referrals with new onset of diabetes mellitus in Covid-19 infected patients.”
UAE: May records the lowest number of Covid-19 cases this year
Ashwani Kumar/Abu Dhabi
A robust vaccination and screening drive across the country has kept the cases in check.
The month of May has seen the lowest number of new Covid-19 cases in the UAE.
The caseload and the average daily mortality rate have been steadily declining since the start of the year.
Medical experts attribute this bending of the curve to the robust vaccination and screening drives held across the country.
An approximate data on the Covid-19 cases will show the surge and drop in numbers: December (38,900), January (95,700), February (87,900), March (69,900), April (58,700) and May (50,500). The average daily mortality rate is as follows: January (5.6), February (13.2), March (8.7), April (3) and May (3).