Category: Infectious Diseases

Here’s How to Design Drug Trials to Defeat the Next Pandemic

Myron Cohen, MD Myron Cohen, MD, began his career fighting HIV in the early 1980s, and he’s been battling the epidemic around the world ever since. But he has never worked as hard to generate new therapies and save lives as he has during the Covid-19 crisis. “Desperation or urgency can push us away from the scientific method,” Cohen said in a CNN Health report. “It is better to n … Read more

As Delta Variant Spreads, Doctors Urge Balancing Safety and Celebration Over Holiday Weekend

David Weber, MD, MPH As fireworks shows and 4th of July events return across the Triangle, doctors stress the need for people to celebrate safely. “The Delta variant has steadily increased in the US from just being a few percent a number of weeks ago to CDC reports more than 20% of all the cases,” said  David Weber, MD, MPH, in an ABC-11 news report. “Sitting at say an outdoor st … Read more

How Will We Know If NC’s Vaccine Lottery Is Working?

David Wohl, MD The number of North Carolinians getting their first shots has plateaued during the three weeks since the state announced a series of $1 million drawings for vaccinated people. An ABC-11 news report recognizes the numerous incentives being offered to persuade people to get their shots, and asks experts if they are working. David Wohl, MD, professor of medicine in th … Read more

NC’s $25 Cash Card Program Expands to 38 Counties As State Hopes to Boost Vaccination Rates

David Weber, MD, MPH North Carolina health officials are expanding the number of locations where you can get a $25 cash card for getting the COVID-19 vaccine or taking someone to get vaccinated. The $25 is meant to offset the time and transportation costs of getting the shot. After a trial period in just a few North Carolina counties, the program is expanding. David Weber, MD, MP … Read more

Delta Variant Causes Concern As Cases Rise Across the Southeast

David Wohl, MD A CBS-17 report says the COVID-19 variant that infected eight N.C. State baseball players can infect twice as many people as the virus last year. The report also acknowledged doctors are mostly concerned about those who are not vaccinated, including David Wohl, MD, professor of medicine in the division of infectious diseases. “Because the virus evolves to become mo … Read more

Gay Discusses Research That Suggests COVID-19 Vaccines Could Provide Protection For Years

Cindy Gay, MD, MPH So much of the world hoped for vaccines that were effective for a long time in fighting COVID-19. Cindy Gay, MD, MPH, associate professor of medicine in the division of infectious diseases, who leads the UNC School of Medicine’s Moderna clinical trial, recognized a study published in the journal Nature that suggests vaccines could be long lasting. “The fact tha … Read more

‘Unusual’ That Vaccinated NC State Baseball Players Test Positive For COVID-19

David Wohl, MD After COVID-19 forced N.C. State out of the College World Series, the university reported that some of the players who tested positive had previously been vaccinated. Currently, the CDC only tracks breakthrough cases that result in hospitalization or death and statistics show 4,115 of those cases among more than 150 million fully vaccinated people. Infectious disea … Read more

Gap Grows Between Best, Worst NC Counties in Vaccine Rollout

David Wohl, MD The gap continues to widen between North Carolina’s counties performing relatively well during the COVID-19 vaccine rollout and those that aren’t, a CBS17.com data analysis found. “I don’t think it’s too much of a surprise, given the size of our state and its geography and other influences, that different counties are doing things differently,” David Wohl, MD, prof … Read more

Ciccone Co-Leads Study to Understand Risk of SARS-CoV-2 Infection Among HCP and Households

Emily Ciccone, MD, MHS Health care personnel (HCP) are at high risk for exposure to the SARS-CoV-2 virus. While personal protective equipment may mitigate this risk, prospective data collection on its use and other risk factors for seroconversion in this population were identified for a study led by Emily Ciccone, MD, MHS, infectious diseases fellow, and Allison Aiello, PhD, prof … Read more

UNC’s infectious diseases program ranked 11th globally

Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine Could Benefit US Even As Vaccinations Slow

David Wohl, MD A fourth COVID-19 vaccine potentially on its way was developed and tested in the Triangle. It’s a North Carolina success story but the current vaccines are a success story for the country. “Just look at the numbers,” said David Wohl, MD, professor of medicine in the division infectious diseases, in a CBS-17 news story. “We’ve gone from 400,000 people dying a day to … Read more

Lagging Vaccine Rate Among Young Adults Helping to Keep NC, US From Reaching July 4 Goal

David Weber, MD, MPH Neither North Carolina nor the rest of the United States will meet President Biden’s goal of having 70 percent of adults at least partially vaccinated by the Fourth of July. “There are many different issues with vaccine hesitancy,” explained David Weber, MD, professor of medicine in the division of infectious diseases, to CBS-17.  “And younger individuals are … Read more