Mad cow breakthrough

Mad cow disease, and its human equivalent (Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease) are caused by misfolded prions. You probably know that. They’re untreatable, incurable, and deadly.

But now European researchers have made a breakthrough: They’ve “identif[ied] the molecular mechanism at work when the prion misfolds.”

Then they created antibodies to target that mechanism and “were successfully able to block prions transitioning from the normal to the pathogenic form.”

Right now it’s all in the lab, but…

[T]he study shows it is possible to disrupt the mechanism, allowing researchers to move forward with designing new drugs.

Georgia cases dropping — fast

For the US as a whole, Covid-19 infections are holding steady at about 55,000 new cases a day (about a five percent drop since last week) — not great, not terrible. Infections were up in 13 states, down in 13 states, and steady everywhere else.

Good news:

The biggest improvements came in Alabama, Arizona, California, and Georgia, each of which saw a decline of over 30% in new cases per day.

Eight wasn’t enough after all

Georgia is opening more mass vaccinations sites — five more, in fact (Columbus, Emerson, Sandersville, Savannah, and Waycross), for a total of nine. The goal, of course, is to try to get the state’s last-in-the-nation vaccine rates higher.

The next issue likely to confront state health officials: vaccine hesitancy. Hopefully appeals from health officials and random celebrities will help … unless someone can think of who else might convince people to get a vaccine. Any ideas?

Captain Obvious gives the thumbs-up

Apparently research was needed to conclude that the nasal-swab Covid-19 test poses risks for people who have had sinus surgery.

Hard to imagine why

Call for candidates: Georgia Pharmacy Foundation

The Georgia Pharmacy Foundation will have three open seats on its board of directors in June — why not apply? The foundation does a lot of good for Georgia pharmacy, and it needs good leaders to keep that up.

From public welfare to promoting education and research, scholarships to advocacy, the Georgia Pharmacy Foundation keeps a lot on its plate. Be a part of the great work it does.

Applying is simple: Send a message to Teresa Tatum at ttatum@gpha.org no later than Friday, March 26, 2021 with a short statement of interest describing why you would like to be considered for this position — be sure to include a résumé or CV. (You can also ask her any questions before applying.)

And learn more about the foundation at GPhA.org/foundation.

Covid notes

A Florida woman who had been vaccinated gave birth to a child who also had Covid antibodies. “Thus, there is potential for protection and infection risk reduction from Sars-CoV-2 with maternal vaccination.”

Those shifty Danes have determined that, while it’s possible to catch Covid-19 twice, those reinfections are rare and usually mild.

Apparently you can outrun it: “[S]low walkers four times more likely to die from Covid-19”.

ICYMI

The Senate confirmed Xavier Becerra as Secretary of Health and Human Services. That is all.

The Long (and Somewhat Amusing) Read: Family Feud edition

Only two companies make Covid test swabs. One’s in Maine, so “America’s Covid Swab Supply Depends on Two Cousins Who Hate Each Other”