Covid19mathblog.com

In previous discussion we noted the amazing drop off India has observed in terms of covid – this report indicates it has to do with genetics for Indians – https://theprint.in/science/why-50-indians-will-be-happy-to-have-some-neanderthal-dna-hint-it-has-to-do-with-covid/607627/

“Researchers in Germany, Japan find that nearly half the Indian population has inherited a DNA sequence from Neanderthals that is believed to reduce risk of severe disease due to Covid.”

“In July last year, a study by researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology found that a piece of the human genome that increases the risk of severe illness from Covid-19 was inherited from Neanderthals over 60,000 years ago. An estimated 30 per cent of South Asians are believed to carry this gene sequence.”

“Hugo Zeberg, one of the authors of the study, told ThePrint that nearly 50 per cent of Indians carry this DNA sequence. The frequency of this gene variant is 49.5 per cent in Gujaratis, and 48 per cent in the Telugu population, he added”

““It seems that the enzymes encoded by the Neanderthal variant are more efficient, reducing the chance of severe consequences to SARS-CoV-2 infections,” Pääbo said.”

A shocking reality on how bad health in first world country has gotten – a study in UK and Scotland show adiposity/obesity has over taken smoking as the largest contribution to avoidable deaths. https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-021-10167-3

“Overall, deaths attributable to current/former smoking declined from 23.1% (95% CI 20.6–25.8%) in 2003 to 19.4% (95% CI 17.3–21.6%) in 2017, whilst those attributable to adiposity (overweight or obesity) increased from 17.9% (95% CI 17.3–18.4%) in 2003 to 23.1% (95% CI 22.3–23.8%) in 2017 with cross-over occurring in 2013. Cross-over occurred earlier in men (2011) than women (2014). It occurred in 2006 for those aged over 65 years of age and in 2012 for those aged 45–64 years. Below 45 years, smoking remained the larger contributor to mortality.”

Covid relief bill with not much covid focus – the acceptable ways how things are done in US law? http://www.crfb.org/press-releases/covid-relief-bill-losing-focus

“Only about 1 percent of the entire package goes toward COVID vaccines, and 5 percent is truly focused on public health needs surrounding the pandemic. Meanwhile, nearly half of the package will be spent on poorly targeted rebate checks and state and local government aid, including to households and governments that have experienced little or no financial loss during this crisis.

More than 15 percent of the package – about $300 billion – is spent on long-standing policy priorities that are not directly related to the current crisis.”

In Russia at a poultry plant we have zootonic infection of workers to H5N8 bird flu – https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/20/bird-flu-humans-infected-with-h5n8-strain-for-first-time-in-russia

“A H5N8 strain of bird flu has been detected in humans for the first time, among seven workers who were infected at a Russian poultry plant in December.

There is no evidence of the strain being transmitted between humans, but Russia has reported the transmission to the World Health Organization.

The workers now feel well, and “the situation did not develop further”, according to Dr Anna Popova, head of consumer health watchdog Rospotrebnadzor. She said the workers had been infected during an outbreak of the strain at the plant.”

“The H5N8 strain is deadly for birds, and this marks the first transmission of the strain from animals to humans. While Popova said the strain didn’t appear to be able to spread among humans, “only time will tell how soon future mutations will allow it to overcome this barrier”.”

“The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said that all birds in the affected areas had been culled “humanely” and control zones introduced.”

More Russia virus news….White walkers are coming now? Nothing can go wrong digging up and extracting 50K year old viruses from Siberia right? https://au.news.yahoo.com/zombie-infection-country-unlocks-50000-year-old-viruses-covid-034817008.html

“"We want to find palaeo-viruses making it possible to start the development of palaeo-virology in Russia,” Vector scientist Dr Olesya Okhlopkova said.

The aim is to “conduct advanced research” in the “evolution of viruses”, but experts have previously warned that delving back into the past could pose a threat from zombie infections.”

US deaths under 3K. US is leading the developed OECD world in full vaccination per capita at 5%. Israel at 33%

Iowa leads in confirmation! 27.3K Looks like another change in method – once again making the timeline history kind of useless – https://www.thegazette.com/subject/news/health/iowas-new-virus-tracking-method-sends-new-case-counts-skyrocketing-20210219CA continues to lead in deaths

Polk IA leads confirmed county at 6547 – Tom Green TX sticks out at #2 – likely an error. LA county drops to #3 but leads in death

Opening up restaurants for Valentines in NY hopefully not a result of all the addition confirmation in NY