German sniffer dogs can hunt out Covid in human saliva with incredible 94% accuracy
Dogs around the worlds are being trained to identify Covid-19 by smell but Germany s armed forces school for service dogs claims their canines might just be the best at it
Filou, the 3-year-old Belgian shepherd can detect COVID-19 in saliva samples (Image: REUTERS)
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Professor Liam Smeeth will be LSHTM’s new Director as of 1 August 2021
The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) is delighted to announce the appointment of Professor Liam Smeeth as Director. He will take over the role from Professor Peter Piot in August 2021.
Prof Smeeth is currently Dean of the Faculty of Epidemiology & Population Health and Professor of Clinical Epidemiology at LSHTM, and also a general practitioner in north London.
He has led a distinguished career in public health and is a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences. Prof Smeeth is a leader in the use of electronic health records, completing ground-breaking work on drug effects, disease aetiology and the evaluation of interventions. His work on the MMR vaccine and autism was of central importance in demonstrating safety and led to a recovery in vaccine uptake. He also undertakes substantial international work focussed on non-communicable diseases in low-income settings.
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What is this year’s theme?
The theme for 2021’s World Cancer Day is: “I Am And I Will”.
The UICC says this year s event marks the final year of a three year campaign, which offers “a chance to create long-lasting impact by increasing public-facing exposure and engagement, more opportunities to build global awareness and impact-driven action.”
They describe 2021 as “the ultimate year of the ‘I Am and I Will’ campaign”, and say “more than ever, our actions are also being felt across borders and oceans. This year is a reminder of the enduring power of cooperation and collective action. When we choose to come together, we can achieve what we all wish for: a healthier, brighter world without cancer.”
Viral load the main driver of SARS-CoV-2 transmission
A study conducted by researchers in the UK and Spain suggests that viral load is the main determinant of transmission risk in cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection.
The SARS-CoV-2 virus is the agent responsible for the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic that continues to threaten global public health and the worldwide economy.
Using data from linked index cases of COVID-19 and their contacts, the team established that the viral load among index cases was the main factor determining whether contacts became infected with SARS-CoV-2.
Increased viral loads among asymptomatic contacts were also strongly associated with a higher risk of developing symptomatic COVID-19. This association was further reflected in the incubation time, which became shorter with increasing viral loads.