livescience--2020-10-01--There’s too much gold in the universe. No one knows where it came from.

Something is raining across the universe .
But no one knows what it is .
Here 's the problem : Gold is an , which means you ca n't make it through ordinary — though tried for centuries .
To make the sparkly metal , you have to bind 79 protons and 118 neutrons together to form a single .
That 's an intense nuclear reaction .
But such intense fusion does n't happen frequently enough , at least not nearby , to make the giant trove of gold we find on and elsewhere in the .
And a new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of gold — collisions between neutron stars — ca n't explain gold 's abundance either .
So where 's the gold coming from ?
There are some other possibilities , including supernovas so intense they turn a star inside out .
Unfortunately , even such strange phenomena ca n't explain how blinged out the local universe is , the new study finds .
Related : The 12 strangest objects in the universe Neutron star collisions build gold by briefly smashing protons and neutrons together into atomic nuclei , then spewing those newly-bound heavy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't explain the universe 's gold because stars massive enough to fuse gold before they die -- which are rare -- become black holes when they explode , said Chiaki Kobayashi , an astrophysicist at the University of Hertfordshire in the United Kingdom and lead author of the new study .
And , in a regular supernova , that gold gets sucked into the black hole .
So what about those odder , star-flipping supernovas ?
This type of star explosion , a so-called magneto-rotational supernova , is `` a very rare supernova @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told Live Science .
During a magneto-rotational supernova , a dying star spins so fast and is wracked by such strong magnetic fields that it turns itself inside out as it explodes .
As it dies , the star shoots white-hot jets of matter into space .
And because the star has been turned inside out , its jets are chock full of gold nuclei .
Stars that fuse gold at all are rare .
Stars that fuse gold then spew it into space like this are even rarer .
But even neutron @ @ @ @ @ @ @ explain Earth 's bonanza of gold , Kobayashi and her colleagues found .
`` There 's two stages to this question , '' she said .
`` Number one is : neutron star mergers are not enough .
Number two : Even with the second source , we still ca n't explain the observed amount of gold . ''
Past studies were right that neutron star collisions release a shower of gold , she said .
But those studies did n't account for the rarity of those collisions .
It 's hard to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — themselves the ultra-dense remnants of ancient supernovas — slam together .
But it 's certainly not very common : Scientists have seen it happen only once .
Even rough estimates show they do n't collide nearly often enough to have produced all the gold found in the solar system , Kobayashi and her co-authors found .
`` There 's two stages to this question , '' she said .
`` Number one is : neutron star mergers are not enough .
Number two : Even with the second source , we still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gold . ''
Past studies were right that neutron star collisions release a shower of gold , she said .
But those studies did n't account for the rarity of those collisions .
It 's hard to precisely estimate how often tiny neutron stars — themselves the ultra-dense remnants of ancient supernovas — slam together .
But it 's certainly not very common : Scientists have seen it happen only once .
Even rough estimates show they do n't collide nearly often enough to have produced all the gold found in the solar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` This paper is not the first to suggest that neutron star collisions are insufficient to explain the abundance of gold , '' said Ian Roederer , an astrophysicist at the University of Michigan , who hunts traces of rare elements in distant stars .
But Kobayashi and her colleagues ' new paper , published Sept. 15 in , has one big advantage : It 's extremely thorough , Roederer said .
The researchers poured over a mountain of data and plugged it into robust models of how the galaxy evolves and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contains references to 341 other publications , which is about three times as many references as typical papers in The Astrophysical Journal these days , '' Roederer told Live Science .
Pulling all that data together in a useful way , he said , amounts to a `` Herculean effort . ''
Using this approach , the authors were able to explain the formation of atoms as light as -12 ( six protons and six neutrons ) and as heavy as -238 ( 92 protons and 146 neutrons ) .
That 's an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elements that are usually ignored in these types of studies .
Mostly , the math worked out .
Neutron star collisions , for example , produced strontium in their model .
That matches after the one neutron star collision scientists have directly observed .
Magneto-rotational supernovas did explain the presence of in their model , another atom that has proved tricky to explain in the past .
Something out there that scientists do n't know about must be making gold , Kobayashi said .
Or it 's possible neutron star collisions make way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In either case , astrophysicists still have a lot of work to do before they can explain where all that fancy bling came from .

An illustration shows the collision of two neutron stars. Scientists had proposed that such collisions might have filled our solar system with gold, but new research casts doubt on that claim.
Something is raining gold across the universe. But no one knows what it is.
Here's the problem: Gold is an element , which means you can't make it through ordinary chemical reactions — though alchemists tried for centuries. To make the sparkly metal, you have to bind 79 protons and 118 neutrons together to form a single atomic nucleus . That's an intense nuclear fusion reaction. But such intense fusion doesn't happen frequently enough, at least not nearby, to make the giant trove of gold we find on Earth and elsewhere in the solar system . And a new study has found the most commonly-theorized origin of gold — collisions between neutron stars — can't explain gold's abundance either. So where's the gold coming from? There are some other possibilities, including supernovas so intense they turn a star inside out. Unfortunately, even such strange phenomena can't explain how blinged out the local universe is, the new study finds.
Related: The 12 strangest objects in the universe
Neutron star collisions build gold by briefly smashing protons and neutrons together into atomic nuclei, then spewing those newly-bound heavy nuclei across space. Regular supernovas can't explain the universe's gold because stars massive enough to fuse gold before they die -- which are rare -- become black holes when they explode, said Chiaki Kobayashi, an astrophysicist at the University of Hertfordshire in the United Kingdom and lead author of the new study. And, in a regular supernova, that gold gets sucked into the black hole.
So what about those odder, star-flipping supernovas? This type of star explosion, a so-called magneto-rotational supernova, is "a very rare supernova, spinning very fast," Kobayashi told Live Science.
During a magneto-rotational supernova, a dying star spins so fast and is wracked by such strong magnetic fields that it turns itself inside out as it explodes. As it dies, the star shoots white-hot jets of matter into space. And because the star has been turned inside out, its jets are chock full of gold nuclei. Stars that fuse gold at all are rare. Stars that fuse gold then spew it into space like this are even rarer.
But even neutron stars plus magneto-rotational supernovas together can't explain Earth's bonanza of gold, Kobayashi and her colleagues found.
"There's two stages to this question," she said. "Number one is: neutron star mergers are not enough. Number two: Even with the second source, we still can't explain the observed amount of gold."
Past studies were right that neutron star collisions release a shower of gold, she said. But those studies didn't account for the rarity of those collisions. It's hard to precisely estimate how often tiny neutron stars — themselves the ultra-dense remnants of ancient supernovas — slam together. But it's certainly not very common: Scientists have seen it happen only once. Even rough estimates show they don't collide nearly often enough to have produced all the gold found in the solar system, Kobayashi and her co-authors found.
"There's two stages to this question," she said. "Number one is: neutron star mergers are not enough. Number two: Even with the second source, we still can't explain the observed amount of gold."
Past studies were right that neutron star collisions release a shower of gold, she said. But those studies didn't account for the rarity of those collisions. It's hard to precisely estimate how often tiny neutron stars — themselves the ultra-dense remnants of ancient supernovas — slam together. But it's certainly not very common: Scientists have seen it happen only once. Even rough estimates show they don't collide nearly often enough to have produced all the gold found in the solar system, Kobayashi and her co-authors found.
Related: 15 amazing images of stars
"This paper is not the first to suggest that neutron star collisions are insufficient to explain the abundance of gold," said Ian Roederer, an astrophysicist at the University of Michigan, who hunts traces of rare elements in distant stars.
But Kobayashi and her colleagues' new paper, published Sept. 15 in The Astrophysical Journal , has one big advantage: It's extremely thorough, Roederer said. The researchers poured over a mountain of data and plugged it into robust models of how the galaxy evolves and produces new chemicals.
"The paper contains references to 341 other publications, which is about three times as many references as typical papers in The Astrophysical Journal these days," Roederer told Live Science.
Pulling all that data together in a useful way, he said, amounts to a "Herculean effort."
Using this approach, the authors were able to explain the formation of atoms as light as carbon -12 (six protons and six neutrons) and as heavy as uranium -238 (92 protons and 146 neutrons). That's an impressive range, Roederer said, covering elements that are usually ignored in these types of studies.
Mostly, the math worked out.
Neutron star collisions, for example, produced strontium in their model. That matches observations of strontium in space after the one neutron star collision scientists have directly observed.
Magneto-rotational supernovas did explain the presence of europium in their model, another atom that has proved tricky to explain in the past.
But gold remains an enigma.
Something out there that scientists don't know about must be making gold, Kobayashi said. Or it's possible neutron star collisions make way more gold than existing models suggest. In either case, astrophysicists still have a lot of work to do before they can explain where all that fancy bling came from.
Originally published on Live Science.


livescience--2020-10-01--US spy satellite launch aborted in final seconds again

The launch of a U.S. spy satellite atop a powerful was called off in the final seconds late last night ( Sept. 30 ) , mirroring the outcome of an attempt a month ago .
The Delta IV Heavy , which is built by the United Launch Alliance ( ULA ) , was scheduled to loft the clandestine NROL-44 satellite at 11:54 p.m. EDT last night ( 0354 GMT on Oct. 1 ) from Florida 's .
Seven seconds before the planned launch , however , the countdown came to a halt .
`` We experienced an automated abort because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Safety System operated as intended .
Bird and payload are safe and unharmed .
Engine ROFI ignitors were not fired .
Turbo pumps were not spun up .
Mission safety first… '' ULA CEO Tory Bruno .
Related : Meet the Delta rocket family of the United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy launches employ two type of ROFIs ( short for `` radially outward firing initiators '' ) , as Bruno explained in another tweet .
One kind , embedded in a rocket engine 's injector plate , ignites the engine with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ type is part of the pad infrastructure and serves to burn off excess hydrogen propellant .
This second class of ROFI , more properly known as a hydrogen burn-off unit , gives Delta IV Heavy launches added visual appeal , causing flames to lick the base of the 235-foot-tall ( 72 meters ) rocket shortly before its engines blaze up in earnest .
Last night 's abort was similar , at least superficially , to the one that kept NROL-44 groundbound on Aug. 29 .
On that day , the countdown got all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a detected anomaly shut everything down .
The Aug. 29 attempt ended in a `` hotfire abort '' — one that occurs after a rocket 's engines have already begun firing up .
Flames were visible at the Delta IV Heavy 's base just before the abort was called last night as well .
However , the fire this time around did n't come from the engines on the rocket 's triple-core first stage , Bruno and other ULA representatives stressed .
Rather , they were generated by the hydrogen burn-off units doing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ROFIs ignited at T-14.5 seconds , the main combustion chamber ( engine ROFIs ) did not ignite , '' ULA representatives ( Oct. 1 ) .
The launch team is reviewing data and will announce a path forward when that appraisal is done , company representatives added .
The two last-second aborts are n't the only bumps in NROL-44 's road to Earth orbit .
The launch of the satellite , whose planned orbital activities are classified , has also been delayed by bad weather and issues with ground hardware .
This story @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oct. 1 to include more details about ROFIs .
Mike Wall is the author of `` Out There '' ( Grand Central Publishing , 2018 ; illustrated by Karl Tate ) , a book about the search for alien life .
Follow him on Twitter @ michaeldwall .
Follow us on Twitter @ Spacedotcom or Facebook .

The launch of a U.S. spy satellite atop a powerful Delta IV Heavy rocket was called off in the final seconds late last night (Sept. 30), mirroring the outcome of an attempt a month ago.
The Delta IV Heavy, which is built by the United Launch Alliance (ULA), was scheduled to loft the clandestine NROL-44 satellite at 11:54 p.m. EDT last night (0354 GMT on Oct. 1) from Florida's Cape Canaveral Air Force Station . Seven seconds before the planned launch, however, the countdown came to a halt.
"We experienced an automated abort because a sensor reported a fault. Automated Safety System operated as intended. Bird and payload are safe and unharmed. Engine ROFI ignitors were not fired. Turbo pumps were not spun up. Mission safety first…" ULA CEO Tory Bruno tweeted shortly after the abort .
Related: Meet the Delta rocket family of the United Launch Alliance
We experienced an automated abort because a sensor reported a fault. Automated Safety System operated as intended. Bird and payload are safe and unharmed. Engine ROFI ignitors were not fired. Turbo pumps were not spun up. Mission safety first...October 1, 2020 See more
Delta IV Heavy launches employ two type of ROFIs (short for "radially outward firing initiators"), as Bruno explained in another tweet. One kind, embedded in a rocket engine's injector plate, ignites the engine with a spray of hot gas. The other type is part of the pad infrastructure and serves to burn off excess hydrogen propellant.
This second class of ROFI, more properly known as a hydrogen burn-off unit, gives Delta IV Heavy launches added visual appeal, causing flames to lick the base of the 235-foot-tall (72 meters) rocket shortly before its engines blaze up in earnest.
Last night's abort was similar, at least superficially, to the one that kept NROL-44 groundbound on Aug. 29. On that day, the countdown got all the way down to T-3 seconds before a detected anomaly shut everything down. The Aug. 29 attempt ended in a "hotfire abort" — one that occurs after a rocket's engines have already begun firing up.
Flames were visible at the Delta IV Heavy's base just before the abort was called last night as well. However, the fire this time around didn't come from the engines on the rocket's triple-core first stage, Bruno and other ULA representatives stressed. Rather, they were generated by the hydrogen burn-off units doing their job.
The launch table ROFIs ignited at T-14.5 seconds, the main combustion chamber (engine ROFIs) did not ignite.October 1, 2020 See more
"The launch table ROFIs ignited at T-14.5 seconds, the main combustion chamber (engine ROFIs) did not ignite," ULA representatives tweeted early this morning (Oct. 1).
The launch team is reviewing data and will announce a path forward when that appraisal is done, company representatives added.
The two last-second aborts aren't the only bumps in NROL-44's road to Earth orbit. The launch of the satellite, whose planned orbital activities are classified, has also been delayed by bad weather and issues with ground hardware.
This story was updated at 3:50 a.m. EDT on Oct. 1 to include more details about ROFIs.
Mike Wall is the author of "Out There" (Grand Central Publishing, 2018; illustrated by Karl Tate), a book about the search for alien life. Follow him on Twitter @michaeldwall. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom or Facebook.


livescience--2020-10-01--Decapitated and dismembered skeletons reveal lost Iron Age massacre

A brutal attack on an Iron Age town in northern Spain during the mid-fourth or late third century B.C .
left more than a dozen bodies — men , women and children — scattered and smoldering in the streets , as the town burned .
Injuries inflicted upon the people who died were horrific .
One person was decapitated , two had severed arms , and the remains of nearly half of the individuals showed signs of mutilation , archaeologists recently discovered .
New analysis of the victims ' bones — the first detailed investigation of their injuries — suggests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ community during either a calculated power grab or an act of revenge .
The site of the massacre was once a bustling , economically thriving town called La Hoya , located in northern Spain 's Rioja Alavesa region .
It was occupied from the 15th century B.C .
to the third century B.C.
, and at its peak was home to about 1,500 people .
Archaeologists uncovered the prehistoric settlement in 1935 , and excavated it from 1973 until around 1990 , uncovering about 15 % of the site , the scientists reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 ) in the journal .
Though only a fraction of La Hoya was excavated , it was immediately clear that something terrible had happened there .
Burned skeletons — at least 13 complete and partial remains — were found lying in the streets and inside buildings .
One adult male had been decapitated , though the archaeologists did not find his skull .
Damage to his right clavicle and shoulder bone revealed that his attacker struck more than once , according to the study .
Bone injuries of another male victim suggested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; a teenage girl suffered an amputated arm , which was found a short distance from her body , still wearing five copper-alloy bracelets , the researchers reported .
They found no signs of weapons near the bodies .
Nor were there any defensive injuries , and the damage appeared to have been inflicted at close range .
All of these clues pointed to a surprise attack .
Scattered craft items , hobbled livestock and vessels filled with recently harvested cereal grain suggest the attackers invaded La Hoya during a market day in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deliberately choosing a time when public spaces would be crowded , the attackers would have ensured a higher number of casualties , according to the study .
Yet despite the display of abundant goods in La Hoya at the time of the attack , the city was unplundered and its riches untouched , hinting that the motivation for the violence was political rather than for economic gain , the scientists said .
The Roman occupation of Iberia , beginning in 218 B.C.
, was brutal , and has long been credited with sparking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Two Roman massacres in Iberian towns — Cerro de la Cruz in 150 B.C .
to 130 B.C .
and La Almoina in 75 B.C .
— are known from archaeological evidence .
In Cerro de la Cruz , the Romans enslaved 10,000 people and beheaded 500 of them ; in La Almoina , they shackled and executed 14 unarmed men .
There , one man was beheaded , another was pierced by a javelin , and several had all of their limbs cut off , according to the study .
However , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in northern Spain , so it 's possible that political instability and deadly clashes between Iberian rivals were already well underway prior to the arrival of Roman forces , the scientists reported .
An attack on La Hoya , which was politically and economically important in the region , likely had dramatic repercussions on the balance of local power , `` by either creating a power vacuum or by consolidating the position of a rival community , '' the study authors reported .
Because the bodies were left unburied , the village was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who have analyzed the La Hoya site previously suggested that the townfolk may have regrouped and continued to live in La Hoya for centuries after the massacre , according to the study .
But the preserved aftermath of the attack and the condition of the remains make that scenario highly unlikely , `` given the scale of death and destruction revealed by the excavations , '' the scientists wrote .

Sharp force trauma severed this amputated right ulna and radius, which belonged to a teenage girl and was found still wearing five bracelets.
A brutal attack on an Iron Age town in northern Spain during the mid-fourth or late third century B.C. left more than a dozen bodies — men, women and children — scattered and smoldering in the streets, as the town burned.
Injuries inflicted upon the people who died were horrific. One person was decapitated, two had severed arms, and the remains of nearly half of the individuals showed signs of mutilation, archaeologists recently discovered.
New analysis of the victims' bones — the first detailed investigation of their injuries — suggests that they were murdered by a neighboring community during either a calculated power grab or an act of revenge.
Related: 25 grisly archaeological discoveries
The site of the massacre was once a bustling, economically thriving town called La Hoya, located in northern Spain's Rioja Alavesa region. It was occupied from the 15th century B.C. to the third century B.C., and at its peak was home to about 1,500 people. Archaeologists uncovered the prehistoric settlement in 1935, and excavated it from 1973 until around 1990, uncovering about 15% of the site, the scientists reported in a study published today (Oct. 1) in the journal Antiquity .
Though only a fraction of La Hoya was excavated, it was immediately clear that something terrible had happened there. Burned skeletons — at least 13 complete and partial remains — were found lying in the streets and inside buildings. One adult male had been decapitated, though the archaeologists did not find his skull. Damage to his right clavicle and shoulder bone revealed that his attacker struck more than once, according to the study.
Bone injuries of another male victim suggested he had been stabbed repeatedly from behind; a teenage girl suffered an amputated arm, which was found a short distance from her body, still wearing five copper-alloy bracelets, the researchers reported. They found no signs of weapons near the bodies. Nor were there any defensive injuries, and the damage appeared to have been inflicted at close range. All of these clues pointed to a surprise attack.
"LHY6" and "LHY3," two of the La Hoya skeletons, were discovered in a street at the site. After the massacre, the town was likely abandoned and the bodies were not buried. (Image credit: Antiquity Publications Ltd/Photos by T. Fernández-Crespo)
Scattered craft items, hobbled livestock and vessels filled with recently harvested cereal grain suggest the attackers invaded La Hoya during a market day in the summer or early autumn. By deliberately choosing a time when public spaces would be crowded, the attackers would have ensured a higher number of casualties, according to the study.
Yet despite the display of abundant goods in La Hoya at the time of the attack, the city was unplundered and its riches untouched, hinting that the motivation for the violence was political rather than for economic gain, the scientists said.
Signs of trauma are visible on the right humerus and right femur belonging to "LHY1," one of the murdered individuals at La Hoya. (Image credit: Antiquity Publications Ltd/Photos by T. Fernández-Crespo)
A violent legacy
The Roman occupation of Iberia, beginning in 218 B.C., was brutal, and has long been credited with sparking cycles of regional violence and upheaval. Two Roman massacres in Iberian towns — Cerro de la Cruz in 150 B.C. to 130 B.C. and La Almoina in 75 B.C. — are known from archaeological evidence. In Cerro de la Cruz, the Romans enslaved 10,000 people and beheaded 500 of them; in La Almoina, they shackled and executed 14 unarmed men. There, one man was beheaded, another was pierced by a javelin, and several had all of their limbs cut off, according to the study.
However, the La Hoya carnage predates Roman conquest in northern Spain, so it's possible that political instability and deadly clashes between Iberian rivals were already well underway prior to the arrival of Roman forces, the scientists reported.
An attack on La Hoya, which was politically and economically important in the region, likely had dramatic repercussions on the balance of local power, "by either creating a power vacuum or by consolidating the position of a rival community," the study authors reported.
Because the bodies were left unburied, the village was probably abandoned after the slaughter. Some who have analyzed the La Hoya site previously suggested that the townfolk may have regrouped and continued to live in La Hoya for centuries after the massacre, according to the study. But the preserved aftermath of the attack and the condition of the remains make that scenario highly unlikely, "given the scale of death and destruction revealed by the excavations," the scientists wrote.
Originally published on Live Science.


livescience--2020-10-01--When should we start testing COVID-19 vaccines in kids?

With several coronavirus vaccines barreling through late-stage trials , adults could receive an approved vaccine in months .
But even then , we likely wo n't know whether any of these vaccines work in children .
Only a handful of vaccine trials currently include children as participants — an Oxford-AstraZeneca trial being one of them , .
The Chinese company Sinovac Biotech will include children ages 3 to 17 in an upcoming trial , , but by and large , most vaccine developers have not launched similar trials with participants younger than age 18 .
And in the U.S. , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccine trials , .
Vaccines typically get tested in adults before children to allow their safety profiles to be fully assessed , and their potential risks minimized , before they 're given to kids .
In the case of COVID-19 , children generally face a far lower risk of hospitalization and death compared with adults , so taking an untested vaccine could pose higher risks than the virus itself .
That said , with data from large adult trials now rolling in , some experts have argued that trials for kids should start @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Here are the most promising coronavirus vaccine candidates out there '' The sooner , the better , '' said Dr. Flor Munoz-Rivas , an associate professor of pediatric infectious disease at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston .
Given early data gathered in late-stage adult trials , which include thousands of participants , vaccine developers could launch trials for older children ages 12 to 17 , she said .
If a vaccine appears safe and effective in this group , the trials could then continue in younger and younger children .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the journal , Munoz-Rivas and her colleagues argue that coronavirus vaccine trials for children `` should begin now . ''
To delay such trials could mean delaying `` our recovery from COVID-19 and unnecessarily prolong [ ing ] its impact upon children 's education , health and emotional well-being , '' they wrote .
The sooner , the better ?
Even though adult hospitalization rates for COVID-19 far outpace those for children , that does n't mean kids are n't being adversely impacted by the disease .
The child hospitalization rates for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like , Hepatitis A and rotavirus , before vaccines for those infections became widely utilized , the commentary notes .
In addition , about one-third of kids who are hospitalized with COVID-19 end up in intensive care , the authors add .
And some infected children develop a condition known as multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children ( MIS-C ) , in which severe throughout the body causes skin rashes , high fever and abdominal pain , among other symptoms , .
In a recent study of MIS-C associated with COVID-19 , published in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 80 % of affected children were admitted to the ICU .
As of early September , more than 100 children had died from COVID-19 in the U.S. , the authors noted .
That 's compared with 188 children who died during the 2019-2020 flu season , according to the .
`` Right now , [ both diseases ] seem to be similar in terms of mortality , but of course , flu is around for a limited period of time , while COVID circulation is ongoing and we don ’ t know how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
`` The potential for surpassing flu is there , in my opinion . ''
Related : 20 of the worst epidemics and pandemics in history An approved vaccine would not only guard children against potential disease and death , but also reduce the spread of COVID-19 from children to others and allow schools to safely resume with fewer distancing measures in place , Dr. Steven Joffe , a bioethics and pediatrics professor at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine , wrote in a commentary in .
`` They can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ children , '' Munoz-Rivas noted .
It 's still unclear how often children below age 10 catch and spread COVID-19 , but in a , published Sep. 28 , researchers describe how older teens may be as likely as adults to transmit the virus .
Without an approved vaccine for those under age 18 , the effort to curb viral spread from children will remain dependent on other countermeasures , like and mask wearing , Joffe wrote .
Once trials for children get off the ground , enrolling participants may take longer than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ noted .
COVID-19 vaccine trials for adults have enrolled thousands to tens of thousands of participants in a matter of months , but `` the pace of doing a pediatric study is not usually that fast , '' she said .
For a child to participate in a trial , their legal guardian must give consent on their behalf , and children ages 7 and older must themselves also agree to participate after receiving a thorough explanation of the study 's requirements and risks , she said .
Even with this involved enrollment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` we did very quickly go from adults to children , and down to different age groups , '' Munoz-Rivas said .
In one trial , `` we enrolled hundreds of kids in two weeks . ''
Initial trials of COVID-19 vaccines in kids would likely enroll a few hundred participants , she said .
Typically , after trials in 12- to 17-year-olds , vaccine developers move on to 5- to 12-year-olds , then to children younger than age 5 .
`` It 's not going to be likely that very young infants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on , '' Munoz-Rivas said .
Just like adult trials , trials with children aim to find the safest and most protective dose for a given vaccine , but data already gathered in adults can hint at what dose might be best .
Children in early trials receive smaller doses than adult participants , and if they have no harmful side effects , trial leaders gradually increase this dosage .
At the same time , trial leaders monitor the amount of children produce at each given dose ; thanks to their young , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dose as adults to prompt a strong immune response , Munoz-Rivas said .
That said , this initial immune protection might wear off over time , as studies hint that immunity to seasonal coronaviruses may be short-lived , .
Immunity to COVID-19 , whether gained through natural infection or a vaccine , may similarly wane through time .
So after receiving an initial COVID-19 vaccine , both children and adults may require booster shots sometime in the future , Munoz-Rivas noted .
Similarly , older children get boosters for chicken pox and after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If possible , both child and adult participants in COVID-19 trials should be monitored after their vaccination , for up to 10 years or so , to determine when and whether a booster is necessary , Munoz-Rivas said .
The timing and dosage of these boosters may differ between adults and children , depending on their initial immune responses to the vaccine , she added .
As in adult trials , vaccine developers must be on the lookout for both short- and long-term side effects that emerge in vaccinated children .
Mild side @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aches or soreness at the injection site , as have been noted in adults , while a severe reaction might include severe inflammation or an overblown immune response .
Since vaccines trigger the production of antibodies that target the coronavirus , vaccine developers need to ensure that this immune response is strong enough to be protective , but so strong that it 's harmful to the child .
For instance , while the exact cause of MIS-C is unknown , found that children with the condition have high concentrations of specific in their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the virus called the `` receptor binding domain '' ( RBD ) , a prime target for vaccines .
The new study did not show whether these antibodies actually cause MIS-C — they may only be a sign of the illness — but in a , experts cautioned vaccine developers to watch for any symptoms of MIS-C in vaccinated children .
The worry would be that a vaccine could prompt production of specific RBD antibodies and that would somehow drive the onset of MIS-C , but this is highly theoretical and may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all , Munoz-Rivas noted .
`` The issue is , 'How well do we understand the mechanism ' '' of how MIS-C occurs , Munoz-Rivas said .
`` It 's not necessarily an antibody issue , '' and most likely , an effective vaccine would help protect children from MIS-C by protecting them from catching COVID-19 in the first place , she said .
Given the direct benefits to children , and indirect benefits to those they interact with , pediatric trials of COVID-19 vaccines should start as soon as possible , she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ children , a vaccine has the added benefit of returning them safely to school and extracurricular activities , and allowing them to engage with their world face-to-face once again , '' they wrote .
`` Ensuring acceleration of vaccine clinical trials to warp speed for children will be critical in making this our future reality . ''

With several coronavirus vaccines barreling through late-stage trials, adults could receive an approved vaccine in months. But even then, we likely won't know whether any of these vaccines work in children.
Only a handful of coronavirus vaccine trials currently include children as participants — an Oxford-AstraZeneca trial being one of them, Stat News reported . The Chinese company Sinovac Biotech will include children ages 3 to 17 in an upcoming trial, according to ClinicalTrials.gov , but by and large, most vaccine developers have not launched similar trials with participants younger than age 18. And in the U.S., no children have been enrolled in coronavirus vaccine trials, The New York Times reported .
Vaccines typically get tested in adults before children to allow their safety profiles to be fully assessed, and their potential risks minimized, before they're given to kids. In the case of COVID-19, children generally face a far lower risk of hospitalization and death compared with adults, so taking an untested vaccine could pose higher risks than the virus itself. That said, with data from large adult trials now rolling in, some experts have argued that vaccine trials for kids should start sooner, rather than later.
Related: Here are the most promising coronavirus vaccine candidates out there
"The sooner, the better," said Dr. Flor Munoz-Rivas, an associate professor of pediatric infectious disease at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. Given early data gathered in late-stage adult trials, which include thousands of participants, vaccine developers could launch trials for older children ages 12 to 17, she said. If a vaccine appears safe and effective in this group, the trials could then continue in younger and younger children.
In a commentary, published Sep. 18 in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases , Munoz-Rivas and her colleagues argue that coronavirus vaccine trials for children "should begin now." To delay such trials could mean delaying "our recovery from COVID-19 and unnecessarily prolong[ing] its impact upon children's education, health and emotional well-being," they wrote.
The sooner, the better?
Even though adult hospitalization rates for COVID-19 far outpace those for children, that doesn't mean kids aren't being adversely impacted by the disease. The child hospitalization rates for COVID-19 are comparable to those for diseases like chickenpox , Hepatitis A and rotavirus, before vaccines for those infections became widely utilized, the commentary notes.
In addition, about one-third of kids who are hospitalized with COVID-19 end up in intensive care, the authors add. And some infected children develop a condition known as multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), in which severe inflammation throughout the body causes skin rashes, high fever and abdominal pain, among other symptoms, Live Science previously reported . In a recent study of MIS-C associated with COVID-19, published in The New England Journal of Medicine , 80% of affected children were admitted to the ICU.
As of early September, more than 100 children had died from COVID-19 in the U.S., the authors noted. That's compared with 188 children who died during the 2019-2020 flu season, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . "Right now, [both diseases] seem to be similar in terms of mortality, but of course, flu is around for a limited period of time, while COVID circulation is ongoing and we don’t know how long it will last," Munoz-Rivas said. "The potential for surpassing flu is there, in my opinion."
Related: 20 of the worst epidemics and pandemics in history
An approved vaccine would not only guard children against potential disease and death, but also reduce the spread of COVID-19 from children to others and allow schools to safely resume with fewer distancing measures in place, Dr. Steven Joffe, a bioethics and pediatrics professor at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, wrote in a commentary in The Washington Post .
"They can definitely transmit the infection, especially older children," Munoz-Rivas noted.
It's still unclear how often children below age 10 catch and spread COVID-19, but in a Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report , published Sep. 28, researchers describe how older teens may be as likely as adults to transmit the virus. Without an approved vaccine for those under age 18, the effort to curb viral spread from children will remain dependent on other countermeasures, like social distancing and mask wearing, Joffe wrote.
Trials for children
Once trials for children get off the ground, enrolling participants may take longer than it would for adult vaccines, Munoz-Rivas noted. COVID-19 vaccine trials for adults have enrolled thousands to tens of thousands of participants in a matter of months, but "the pace of doing a pediatric study is not usually that fast," she said. For a child to participate in a trial, their legal guardian must give consent on their behalf, and children ages 7 and older must themselves also agree to participate after receiving a thorough explanation of the study's requirements and risks, she said.
Even with this involved enrollment process, during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, "we did very quickly go from adults to children, and down to different age groups," Munoz-Rivas said. In one trial, "we enrolled hundreds of kids in two weeks." Initial trials of COVID-19 vaccines in kids would likely enroll a few hundred participants, she said.
Typically, after trials in 12- to 17-year-olds, vaccine developers move on to 5- to 12-year-olds, then to children younger than age 5. "It's not going to be likely that very young infants will be part of the studies early on," Munoz-Rivas said.
Just like adult trials, trials with children aim to find the safest and most protective dose for a given vaccine, but data already gathered in adults can hint at what dose might be best. Children in early trials receive smaller doses than adult participants, and if they have no harmful side effects, trial leaders gradually increase this dosage. At the same time, trial leaders monitor the amount of antibodies children produce at each given dose; thanks to their young immune systems , children may not need as high a dose as adults to prompt a strong immune response, Munoz-Rivas said.
Related: 5 dangerous myths about vaccines
That said, this initial immune protection might wear off over time, as studies hint that immunity to seasonal coronaviruses may be short-lived, Live Science previously reported . Immunity to COVID-19, whether gained through natural infection or a vaccine, may similarly wane through time.
So after receiving an initial COVID-19 vaccine, both children and adults may require booster shots sometime in the future, Munoz-Rivas noted. Similarly, older children get boosters for chicken pox and whooping cough after receiving their initial doses in infancy. If possible, both child and adult participants in COVID-19 trials should be monitored after their vaccination, for up to 10 years or so, to determine when and whether a booster is necessary, Munoz-Rivas said. The timing and dosage of these boosters may differ between adults and children, depending on their initial immune responses to the vaccine, she added.
As in adult trials, vaccine developers must be on the lookout for both short- and long-term side effects that emerge in vaccinated children. Mild side effects might include mild fever, muscle aches or soreness at the injection site, as have been noted in adults, while a severe reaction might include severe inflammation or an overblown immune response.
Since vaccines trigger the production of antibodies that target the coronavirus, vaccine developers need to ensure that this immune response is strong enough to be protective, but so strong that it's harmful to the child.
For instance, while the exact cause of MIS-C is unknown, one recent study found that children with the condition have high concentrations of specific antibodies in their blood; these antibodies grab onto part of the virus called the "receptor binding domain" (RBD), a prime target for vaccines. The new study did not show whether these antibodies actually cause MIS-C — they may only be a sign of the illness — but in a commentary accompanying the report , experts cautioned vaccine developers to watch for any symptoms of MIS-C in vaccinated children. The worry would be that a vaccine could prompt production of specific RBD antibodies and that would somehow drive the onset of MIS-C, but this is highly theoretical and may not prove to be a risk at all, Munoz-Rivas noted.
"The issue is, 'How well do we understand the mechanism'" of how MIS-C occurs, Munoz-Rivas said. "It's not necessarily an antibody issue," and most likely, an effective vaccine would help protect children from MIS-C by protecting them from catching COVID-19 in the first place, she said. Given the direct benefits to children, and indirect benefits to those they interact with, pediatric trials of COVID-19 vaccines should start as soon as possible, she and her co-authors wrote.
"For children, a vaccine has the added benefit of returning them safely to school and extracurricular activities, and allowing them to engage with their world face-to-face once again," they wrote. "Ensuring acceleration of vaccine clinical trials to warp speed for children will be critical in making this our future reality."
Originally published on Live Science.


livescience--2020-10-02--New York and New Jersey launch COVID-19 contact tracing apps

New York and New Jersey joined a handful of other states in launching contact tracing apps for COVID-19 .
On Thursday ( Oct. 1 ) , the two states each launched their own contact tracing apps called `` `` and `` , '' respectively .
These apps , which keep users ' identities anonymous , are based on a new technology developed by Google and Apple .
They use bluetooth to connect to nearby phones and alert users if they 've been in close contact with someone who has been infected with the coronavirus .
From the very start of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an important part of helping to stop the spread of the virus .
Contact tracing involves identifying people with COVID-19 , figuring out who they came in close contact with , and notifying all of those people so that they can self-quarantine or get tested before spreading the virus to others .
Most of those efforts have been conducted by people conducting phone calls .
`` We have about 15,000 people statewide who do contact tracing .
They call them disease detectives , '' New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo said in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 've been looking for a technology-based solution . ''
The contact tracing app `` knows where your cellphone is , the app will know where a person who tested positive was through their cellphone and the app can tell you if you were within 6 feet of that person , '' Cuomo said .
`` It does n't give names , it does n't give any privacy information [ and ] it 's voluntary . ''
This is how it works : When you 've spent more than 10 minutes within 6 feet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which is `` long enough and close enough for you to catch the virus , '' your phone exchanges a `` secure '' and `` random '' code with the other person 's phone , according to the COVID Alert NY app .
The phones will store these random codes in a list .
If you end up testing positive for COVID-19 , a public health representative will call and ask if you 'd be willing to share the app 's list of random codes to help protect other people .
`` Sharing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' according to the app descriptions .
`` The app never reveals who you are to anyone . ''
Also , the app will constantly compare its own list to the list of infected codes , and if there 's a match it will send a notification to the person 's phone , alerting you that you may have been in close contact with an infected person .
You also have the option to keep track of your own symptoms on the apps .
A handful of other states have their own contact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Michigan , Minnesota , Nevada , North Dakota , Wyoming , Pennsylvania , Delaware , Virginia , North Carolina and Arizona , according to the The New York Times .
The apps launched by Pennsylvania , Delaware , New York , New Jersey and one that will soon be launched in Connecticut will work together , Cuomo said .
`` So even if you 're traveling in the Metropolitan area , it will tell you if you were in contact with a person , '' with COVID-19 , he added .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contact tracing to a new level , but it 's going to give people comfort , '' he added .
Still , the apps will only work effectively if enough people download and use them .
Other countries such as France , Germany , Ireland and South Korea have previously launched their own contact tracing apps with varying success in getting people to download the apps , according to CNBC .

New York and New Jersey joined a handful of other states in launching contact tracing apps for COVID-19.
On Thursday (Oct. 1), the two states each launched their own contact tracing apps called " COVID Alert NY " and " COVID Alert NJ ," respectively. These apps, which keep users' identities anonymous, are based on a new technology developed by Google and Apple. They use bluetooth to connect to nearby phones and alert users if they've been in close contact with someone who has been infected with the coronavirus.
From the very start of the pandemic, contact tracing has been an important part of helping to stop the spread of the virus. Contact tracing involves identifying people with COVID-19, figuring out who they came in close contact with, and notifying all of those people so that they can self-quarantine or get tested before spreading the virus to others. Most of those efforts have been conducted by people conducting phone calls.
Related: Coronavirus live updates
"We have about 15,000 people statewide who do contact tracing. They call them disease detectives," New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a briefing on Thursday. "But we've been looking for a technology-based solution."
The contact tracing app "knows where your cellphone is, the app will know where a person who tested positive was through their cellphone and the app can tell you if you were within 6 feet of that person," Cuomo said. "It doesn't give names, it doesn't give any privacy information [and] it's voluntary."
This is how it works: When you've spent more than 10 minutes within 6 feet of another person with the app, which is "long enough and close enough for you to catch the virus," your phone exchanges a "secure" and "random" code with the other person's phone, according to the COVID Alert NY app. The phones will store these random codes in a list.
If you end up testing positive for COVID-19, a public health representative will call and ask if you'd be willing to share the app's list of random codes to help protect other people. "Sharing your list is secure and private," according to the app descriptions. "The app never reveals who you are to anyone." Also, the app will constantly compare its own list to the list of infected codes, and if there's a match it will send a notification to the person's phone, alerting you that you may have been in close contact with an infected person. You also have the option to keep track of your own symptoms on the apps.
A handful of other states have their own contact tracing apps, including Alabama, Alaska, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, North Dakota, Wyoming, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia, North Carolina and Arizona, according to the The New York Times .
The apps launched by Pennsylvania, Delaware, New York, New Jersey and one that will soon be launched in Connecticut will work together, Cuomo said. "So even if you're traveling in the Metropolitan area, it will tell you if you were in contact with a person," with COVID-19, he added.
The new app will "not only bring contact tracing to a new level, but it's going to give people comfort," he added.
Still, the apps will only work effectively if enough people download and use them. Other countries such as France, Germany, Ireland and South Korea have previously launched their own contact tracing apps with varying success in getting people to download the apps, according to CNBC.


livescience--2020-10-02--'Naked' shark was born without skin or teeth in world first

In July 2019 , fishers trawling the Mediterranean Sea south of Sardinia , Italy , accidentally pulled a mutant from the depths .
Ensnared in their net among hundreds of other fish , and assorted marine life was a blackmouth catshark ( Galeus melastomus ) — seemingly born without or teeth .
While scientists have reported numerous cases of albinism , discoloration and other genetic skin mutations in sharks before , this rare catch is the first and only known case of a shark living with a `` severe lack of all skin-related structures [ including ] teeth , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the .
Perhaps stranger still , the abnormal shark seemed to be living a relatively normal life until it was scooped from the sea , lead study author Antonello Mulas said .
When he and his colleagues examined the shark , they found that it was about 3 years old , had grown at a typical rate , and had a belly full of food when it died .
`` Our first reaction was , ' A shark without skin ca n't survive , ' '' Mulas , a biologist at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Live Science .
`` But , as Shakespeare said , there are more things in heaven and than you can imagine . ''
G. melastomus are common , small catsharks that can grow to a maximum length of 2.3 feet ( 70 centimeters ) — about the size of a child 's baseball bat .
They are prevalent in the northeast Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea , where they tend to swim at depths of 650 to 1,600 feet ( 200 to 500 meters ) .
True to its name , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jet-black , as is the skin-like sheath that covers its internal organs .
That inner blackness is plainly visible in images of the `` naked shark '' of Sardinia , as Mulas and his colleagues dubbed it in their paper .
The shark 's dark interior peeks through its gills and transparent head , sharply contrasting the rest of its wan , yellowish body .
The shark looked so abnormal that the researchers ' first impulse was to make sure it was n't an `` alien '' — that is , a species @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
`` There are more than 300 species of shark , and we wanted to make sure this was n't some type we 'd never heard of , '' Mulas added .
The shark was no alien , the researchers found — just otherworldly .
The team 's investigation revealed that the catshark was a young female measuring 1 foot ( 30 cm ) long , which showed normal growth for its age .
Besides obviously missing its epidermis ( the outermost layer of skin ) , the shark was also missing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ structures that line the skin of all sharks and , a microscopicy analysis revealed .
These hard , pointed scales not only provide sharks with physical protection , but also make them faster , more agile swimmers , Mulas said .
In the absence of dermal denticles , the naked catshark was likely a weaker swimmer than its peers — but that apparently did n't stop it from successfully filling its stomach , nor did its lack of teeth .
In the shark 's gut , the researchers found 14 food items , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crustaceans and bony fishes .
Because blackmouth catsharks typically swallow their prey whole , the naked shark 's naked mouth did not make her any less effective a predator , Mulas said .
Related : The 10 weirdest medical cases in the animal kingdom The shark 's abnormal appearance was almost certainly the result of a genetic mutation , the researchers concluded .
This mutation may be totally natural , or it could have been influenced by exposure to chemical pollution in the water , Mulas said .
To get a better idea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ site where the naked catshark was caught and sample the sediment on the seafloor .
This analysis should reveal if there was anything potentially harmful in the shark 's environment , and could point the way toward other similarly strange sea creatures , Mulas said .
`` Maybe we 'll find a two-headed shark , or Blinky [ the three-eyed ] ' , '' he said hopefully .

In July 2019, fishers trawling the Mediterranean Sea south of Sardinia, Italy, accidentally pulled a mutant from the depths. Ensnared in their net among hundreds of other fish, sharks and assorted marine life was a blackmouth catshark (Galeus melastomus) — seemingly born without skin or teeth.
While scientists have reported numerous cases of albinism, discoloration and other genetic skin mutations in sharks before, this rare catch is the first and only known case of a shark living with a "severe lack of all skin-related structures [including] teeth," according to a study published July 16 in the Journal of Fish Biology .
Perhaps stranger still, the abnormal shark seemed to be living a relatively normal life until it was scooped from the sea, lead study author Antonello Mulas said. When he and his colleagues examined the shark, they found that it was about 3 years old, had grown at a typical rate, and had a belly full of food when it died.
Related: Image gallery: Mysterious lives of whale sharks
"Our first reaction was, 'A shark without skin can't survive,'" Mulas, a biologist at the University of Cagliari in Sardinia, told Live Science. "But, as Shakespeare said, there are more things in heaven and Earth than you can imagine."
The 'naked' catshark (A, C) versus an average catshark (B, D). (Image credit: Mulas et al.)
G. melastomus are common, small catsharks that can grow to a maximum length of 2.3 feet (70 centimeters) — about the size of a child's baseball bat. They are prevalent in the northeast Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, where they tend to swim at depths of 650 to 1,600 feet (200 to 500 meters). True to its name, the interior of the blackmouth's maw is jet-black, as is the skin-like sheath that covers its internal organs.
That inner blackness is plainly visible in images of the "naked shark" of Sardinia, as Mulas and his colleagues dubbed it in their paper. The shark's dark interior peeks through its gills and transparent head, sharply contrasting the rest of its wan, yellowish body. The shark looked so abnormal that the researchers' first impulse was to make sure it wasn't an "alien" — that is, a species not native to the Mediterranean, Mulas said.
"There are more than 300 species of shark, and we wanted to make sure this wasn't some type we'd never heard of," Mulas added.
The shark was no alien, the researchers found — just otherworldly. The team's investigation revealed that the catshark was a young female measuring 1 foot (30 cm) long, which showed normal growth for its age. Besides obviously missing its epidermis (the outermost layer of skin), the shark was also missing its dermal denticles — tiny, fang-like structures that line the skin of all sharks and rays , a microscopicy analysis revealed. These hard, pointed scales not only provide sharks with physical protection, but also make them faster, more agile swimmers, Mulas said.
In the absence of dermal denticles, the naked catshark was likely a weaker swimmer than its peers — but that apparently didn't stop it from successfully filling its stomach, nor did its lack of teeth. In the shark's gut, the researchers found 14 food items, including a buffet of tiny cephalopods, crustaceans and bony fishes. Because blackmouth catsharks typically swallow their prey whole, the naked shark's naked mouth did not make her any less effective a predator, Mulas said.
Related: The 10 weirdest medical cases in the animal kingdom
The shark's abnormal appearance was almost certainly the result of a genetic mutation, the researchers concluded. This mutation may be totally natural, or it could have been influenced by exposure to chemical pollution in the water, Mulas said. To get a better idea, the researchers will return to the site where the naked catshark was caught and sample the sediment on the seafloor. This analysis should reveal if there was anything potentially harmful in the shark's environment, and could point the way toward other similarly strange sea creatures, Mulas said.
"Maybe we'll find a two-headed shark, or Blinky [the three-eyed] ' Simpsons' fish ," he said hopefully.
Originally published on Live Science.


livescience--2020-10-02--Woman's odd headache was from tapeworm larvae in her brain

A young woman in Australia was found to have tapeworm larvae lurking in her brain — a very unusual diagnosis considering she had no risk factors for the condition , according to a new report of the case .
Indeed , it 's believed to be the first `` locally acquired '' case of the disease in Australia , that is , in someone who had n't traveled out of the country , the report said .
The 25-year-old woman went to the hospital after experiencing headaches for a week , according to the report , published Sept. 21 in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hygiene .
She was no stranger to headaches — she had experienced migraines with visual `` auras '' on a regular basis since the age of 18 .
But her latest headache seemed different .
It did n't go away when she took painkillers , which usually cured her headaches .
And her visual symptoms were more severe , with her vision becoming blurry at times .
An MRI of her head revealed a single brain lesion , which doctors suspected was either a brain abscess or tumor .
But when doctors performed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they got a surprise .
The lesion was really a cyst , and it was n't made of human tissue .
Further tests revealed that the cyst contained .
Related : 8 Awful Parasite Infections That Will Make Your Skin Crawl The woman was diagnosed with , a parasitic disease that occurs when a person ingests microscopic eggs from a pork tapeworm ( Taenia solium ) .
When the eggs hatch , the larvae can travel throughout the body , including to the brain , muscles , skin and eyes , where they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Health Organization .
After the cyst was removed , the woman did not need further treatment for the infection .
This tapeworm is common in developing nations , including countries in Latin America , Africa and Asia .
The life cycle of the Taenia solium parasite usually requires pigs to have contact with human feces , and so infections are most often found in areas with poor sanitation practices in which pigs come into contact with human feces , according to the .
But in Australia , all previous reported cases have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ county or traveled to areas where the disease is endemic before returning to Australia .
( Similarly , in the United States , nearly all cases occur in people who have immigrated from areas where the disease is endemic . )
Exactly how the Australian woman caught the disease is a mystery .
She was born in Australia and had never traveled overseas .
However , people can catch neurocysticercosis from close contact with a person who is infected with the pork .
( Tapeworm carriers can pass on the parasite if they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because the tapeworm eggs pass in the feces . )
However , the woman did not report having a previous or current contact from an endemic area .
The woman did work as a barista , and so the authors speculated that she may have been exposed through her job , which entailed `` ongoing casual contact with people from a variety of geographical regions . ''
But if this did happen , it would be a very rare event , given the countless numbers of people who work in the Australian hospitality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the authors said .
Still , given the ease of travel between countries , it is perhaps not surprising that `` sporadic infection can occur in people who would otherwise be considered at no or very low risk of infection with T. solium , '' the authors said .
The Australian woman 's case is similar to that of a New York woman who was diagnosed with neurocysticercosis last year .
The woman , Rachel Palma , also developed the disease without having any risk factors , .
The authors of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the possible risk of locally acquired cases of neurocysticercosis occurring in non-endemic countries .

A young woman in Australia was found to have tapeworm larvae lurking in her brain — a very unusual diagnosis considering she had no risk factors for the condition, according to a new report of the case.
Indeed, it's believed to be the first "locally acquired" case of the disease in Australia, that is, in someone who hadn't traveled out of the country, the report said.
The 25-year-old woman went to the hospital after experiencing headaches for a week, according to the report, published Sept. 21 in The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene . She was no stranger to headaches — she had experienced migraines with visual "auras" on a regular basis since the age of 18. But her latest headache seemed different. It didn't go away when she took painkillers, which usually cured her headaches. And her visual symptoms were more severe, with her vision becoming blurry at times.
An MRI of her head revealed a single brain lesion, which doctors suspected was either a brain abscess or tumor.
But when doctors performed brain surgery to remove the lesion, they got a surprise. The lesion was really a cyst, and it wasn't made of human tissue. Further tests revealed that the cyst contained tapeworm larvae .
Related: 8 Awful Parasite Infections That Will Make Your Skin Crawl
The woman was diagnosed with neurocysticercosis , a parasitic disease that occurs when a person ingests microscopic eggs from a pork tapeworm (Taenia solium). When the eggs hatch, the larvae can travel throughout the body, including to the brain, muscles, skin and eyes, where they form cysts, according to the World Health Organization.
After the cyst was removed, the woman did not need further treatment for the infection.
This tapeworm is common in developing nations, including countries in Latin America, Africa and Asia. The life cycle of the Taenia solium parasite usually requires pigs to have contact with human feces, and so infections are most often found in areas with poor sanitation practices in which pigs come into contact with human feces, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
But in Australia, all previous reported cases have been among people who either immigrated to the county or traveled to areas where the disease is endemic before returning to Australia. (Similarly, in the United States, nearly all cases occur in people who have immigrated from areas where the disease is endemic.)
Exactly how the Australian woman caught the disease is a mystery. She was born in Australia and had never traveled overseas. However, people can catch neurocysticercosis from close contact with a person who is infected with the pork tapeworm . (Tapeworm carriers can pass on the parasite if they don't wash their hands properly, because the tapeworm eggs pass in the feces.) However, the woman did not report having a previous or current contact from an endemic area.
The woman did work as a barista, and so the authors speculated that she may have been exposed through her job, which entailed "ongoing casual contact with people from a variety of geographical regions." But if this did happen, it would be a very rare event, given the countless numbers of people who work in the Australian hospitality industry who haven't caught this infection, the authors said.
Still, given the ease of travel between countries, it is perhaps not surprising that "sporadic infection can occur in people who would otherwise be considered at no or very low risk of infection with T. solium," the authors said.
The Australian woman's case is similar to that of a New York woman who was diagnosed with neurocysticercosis last year. The woman, Rachel Palma, also developed the disease without having any risk factors, Live Science previously reported .
The authors of the new report hope their case raises awareness about the possible risk of locally acquired cases of neurocysticercosis occurring in non-endemic countries.
Originally published on Live Science.


livescience--2020-10-02--Mysterious inflammatory syndrome tied to COVID-19 strikes adults as well as kids

Months after the discovery of a , health officials are warning that a similar condition can strike adults as well .
On Friday ( Oct. 2 ) , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) released a report describing a `` multisystem inflammatory syndrome in adults '' or ( MIS-A ) .
Like the syndrome in children , MIS-A is a severe illness that targets multiple organs and causes increased inflammation in the body , the report said .
And with both syndromes , many patients either test positive for SARS-CoV-2 , the virus that causes COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ indicating a recent infection .
Currently , MIS-A appears rare , like its counterpart in children .
The new CDC report identifies around two dozen cases of MIS-A .
Still , the new report , published in the CDC journal , urges doctors to consider a diagnosis of MIS-A in adults with compatible signs and symptoms .
`` Ultimately , the recognition of MIS-A reinforces the need for prevention efforts to limit spread of SARS-CoV-2 , '' the authors concluded .
Reports of a mysterious inflammatory syndrome in children first appeared in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MIS-C , or `` multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children . ''
Children with this , which affects multiple organs and often requires hospitalization , can experience fever , abdominal pain , vomiting , diarrhea , neck pain , rash , bloodshot eyes and fatigue , according to the CDC .
So far , the CDC has of 935 cases of MIS-C in the United States , including 19 deaths .
The official definition of MIS-C includes an age limit of 20 years old , and cases have been seen in children , teens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , there were reports of a similar syndrome popping up in adults .
The new CDC report describes 27 cases of MIS-A from the United States and the United Kingdom .
Sixteen of these cases are described in detail , nine of which were officially reported to the CDC , and seven of which were described in published case reports .
Among the 16 cases , patients ranged in age from 21 to 50 years old .
Just one case was reported in the U.K. , with the rest reported in the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Louisiana , Georgia , New York , Massachusetts and Texas .
Some adult symptoms were similar to those seen in children , including fever , gastrointestinal symptoms and rash .
Some patients reported chest pain or heart palpitations , and all had elevated levels of markers of inflammation .
All of the patients had either a positive COVID-19 test or positive antibody test .
Ten patients required treatment in the intensive care unit , and two patients died , the report said .
The findings `` indicate that adult patients of all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can develop a hyperinflammatory syndrome resembling MIS-C , '' the authors wrote .
The authors note that hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in general can experience inflammation and effects on organs beyond the .
However , in most cases , those effects are accompanied by serious respiratory problems .
However , with MIS-A , patients have n't shown serious respiratory symptoms .
Of the 16 patients , half did not have any respiratory symptoms , and half had only mild ones .
Concerningly , of 22 patients in the study with information on race/ethnicity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a minority group .
`` Long-standing health and social inequities have resulted in increased risk for infection and severe outcomes from COVID-19 in communities of color , '' the authors said .
A similar trend has been seen in children with MIS-C — more than 70 % of reported U.S. cases have occurred in children who are Hispanic or Black , according to the CDC .
The underlying causes of MIS-C and MIS-A are not known .
But 30 % of adults in the current report and 45 % of a sample @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for SARS-CoV-2 , but positive for antibodies against the virus , `` suggesting MIS-A and MIS-C might represent postinfectious processes , '' the authors wrote .
Further research is needed to understand the exact causes of this condition and its long-term effects , they concluded .

Months after the discovery of a "multisystem inflammatory syndrome" tied to COVID-19 in children , health officials are warning that a similar condition can strike adults as well.
On Friday (Oct. 2), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a report describing a "multisystem inflammatory syndrome in adults" or (MIS-A). Like the syndrome in children, MIS-A is a severe illness that targets multiple organs and causes increased inflammation in the body, the report said. And with both syndromes, many patients either test positive for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, or have antibodies against it, indicating a recent infection.
Currently, MIS-A appears rare, like its counterpart in children. The new CDC report identifies around two dozen cases of MIS-A.
Still, the new report, published in the CDC journal Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report , urges doctors to consider a diagnosis of MIS-A in adults with compatible signs and symptoms. "Ultimately, the recognition of MIS-A reinforces the need for prevention efforts to limit spread of SARS-CoV-2," the authors concluded.
Related: 14 coronavirus myths busted by science
Adult syndrome
Reports of a mysterious inflammatory syndrome in children first appeared in the spring, and doctors dubbed the condition MIS-C, or "multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children." Children with this rare syndrome , which affects multiple organs and often requires hospitalization, can experience fever, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, neck pain, rash, bloodshot eyes and fatigue, according to the CDC . So far, the CDC has received reports of 935 cases of MIS-C in the United States, including 19 deaths. The official definition of MIS-C includes an age limit of 20 years old, and cases have been seen in children, teens and young adults.
Over the summer, there were reports of a similar syndrome popping up in adults. The new CDC report describes 27 cases of MIS-A from the United States and the United Kingdom. Sixteen of these cases are described in detail, nine of which were officially reported to the CDC, and seven of which were described in published case reports.
Among the 16 cases, patients ranged in age from 21 to 50 years old. Just one case was reported in the U.K., with the rest reported in the U.S., including cases in Maine, Florida, Louisiana, Georgia, New York, Massachusetts and Texas.
Some adult symptoms were similar to those seen in children, including fever, gastrointestinal symptoms and rash. Some patients reported chest pain or heart palpitations, and all had elevated levels of markers of inflammation. All of the patients had either a positive COVID-19 test or positive antibody test. Ten patients required treatment in the intensive care unit, and two patients died, the report said.
The findings "indicate that adult patients of all ages with current or previous SARS-CoV-2 infection can develop a hyperinflammatory syndrome resembling MIS-C," the authors wrote.
The authors note that hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in general can experience inflammation and effects on organs beyond the lungs . However, in most cases, those effects are accompanied by serious respiratory problems. However, with MIS-A, patients haven't shown serious respiratory symptoms. Of the 16 patients, half did not have any respiratory symptoms, and half had only mild ones.
Concerningly, of 22 patients in the study with information on race/ethnicity available, all but one patient belonged to a minority group.
"Long-standing health and social inequities have resulted in increased risk for infection and severe outcomes from COVID-19 in communities of color," the authors said. A similar trend has been seen in children with MIS-C — more than 70% of reported U.S. cases have occurred in children who are Hispanic or Black, according to the CDC .
The underlying causes of MIS-C and MIS-A are not known. But 30% of adults in the current report and 45% of a sample of 440 children with MIS-C tested negative for SARS-CoV-2, but positive for antibodies against the virus, "suggesting MIS-A and MIS-C might represent postinfectious processes," the authors wrote. Further research is needed to understand the exact causes of this condition and its long-term effects, they concluded.
Originally published on Live Science.


livescience--2020-10-02--Just how many people could be infected as part of  the Trump COVID-19 outbreak?

U.S. president Donald Trump has tested positive for the novel coronavirus .
Just how many people could he have passed the virus on to ?
Normally , contact tracers try to tally up a person 's close contacts starting around two days before they first start showing symptoms .
But when the person in question is the President of the United States , that list can get very large , very quickly , and contact tracing can become a nightmare .
For instance , Trump attended around 15 events in various states , from the 2020 presidential debate to fundraisers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , .
And for at least some of that time , the virus was likely silently multiplying in his body .
Seeing as he rarely wears a mask in public and continues to attend events that do n't follow social distancing guidelines , he likely spread the virus to others , said George Rutherford , professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at the University of California , San Francisco .
In particular , the president would likely have been quite infectious Thursday ( Oct. 1 ) when he flew to a private fundraiser at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rutherford said .
Though it 's still a bit of a jump to say at this point , `` it 's possible that this fundraiser will turn into a superspreading event , '' Rutherford said .
`` He could 've infected a lot of people . ''
Typically , when a person becomes infected with the novel coronavirus , contract tracers will call that person and create a list of people who they have interacted with long enough and close enough for the virus to have infected .
The contact tracers will then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to alert them that they should self-quarantine and get a test in order to prevent further propagation of the virus .
But because Trump has recently interacted with so many people , including other top government officials , finding and connecting with all of his contacts would be a Herculean task .
The normal entities may not be trusted or able to do the tracing .
`` I suspect they wo n't turn it over to the Washington D.C. health department , '' but maybe the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attempt the contact tracing for the president , Rutherford told Live Science .
Contact tracers typically go back 48 hours from when a person starts showing symptoms to identify close contacts , or those who have been together for at least 15 minutes within 6 feet ( 1.8 meters ) of each other , Rutherford said .
If a person is infected on Day 0 , on average , that person tests positive on Day 3 , they become infectious on Day 4 , develop symptoms on Day 5 and remain the most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ viral load ) until about day 7 or 8 , Rutherford said .
`` If the president is indeed getting tested every single day , which is what we hear , that means he would have tested negative on Monday , Tuesday [ and ] Wednesday , '' before testing positive on Thursday ( Oct. 1 ) , Rutherford said .
Trump and Melania were tested for the virus after news that Trump 's close aide Hope Hicks tested positive for the virus , .
Hicks had recently traveled with Trump aboard Air @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cleveland on Tuesday ( Sept. 29 ) and to a Minnesota rally on Wednesday ( Sept. 30 ) .
Trump is experiencing `` mild symptoms , '' the White House chief of staff Mark Meadows told reporters today ( Oct. 2 ) .
But Trump is expected to be taken to Walter Reed Medical Center this afternoon `` out of an abundance of caution , '' administration officials said , according to The Washington Post .
If you give it 12 hours between the time he tested positive on Thursday night and developed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Day 5 of illness now , '' Rutherford told Live Science .
That likely means that he would 've been infected by the virus on Monday , he said .
Other estimates place the exposure date as sometime between last Saturday and Monday , .
On Saturday ( Sept. 26 ) , Trump announced Judge Amy Coney Barrett as his Supreme Court Nominee at a huge White House Rose Garden event where many attendees did not wear a mask .
But of course , these are average numbers and these timelines can differ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kind of predicated on the thought that he tested negative , '' on all these days , Rutherford said .
`` They may not be testing him every day in which case all of this gets rejumbled . ''
In July , Trump said he was typically being tested every two to three days , .
On Monday ( Sept. 28 ) , Trump attended an event on the White House South Lawn surveying a Lordstown Motors truck along with two Congress members and three representatives from the company , according to his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an event in the Rose Garden , attended by many officials , to announce the distribution of millions of coronavirus tests to states .
That means that Trump could have been infected before the 2020 presidential debate with Joe Biden on Tuesday , but probably did n't have enough viral load to test positive .
What 's more , some of Trump 's close aides said they sensed Trump was n't feeling well and seemed exhausted on Wednesday , .
That would push back the timeline and could mean he was infectious during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
What 's more , the debate moderator and Fox News anchor Chris Wallace said Friday on Fox News that the candidates ' negative test results were based on an `` honor system '' because they were tested by their own campaigns rather than by the clinic and reported the results as negative , .
Who has been infected ?
To control the outbreak , contact tracers need to ask who infected the president , who else that person may have exposed , and who else the president might have exposed , Rutherford @ @ @ @ @ @ @ events to investigate is the Bedminster fundraiser , because Trump was clearly infectious at that time , Rutherford said .
Because it 's a fundraiser , it would probably be easy for contact tracers to obtain a list of who attended , he added .
( NJ.com is reporting that as many as . )
In addition to guest lists for this and other events , contact tracers will also need a list of people who flew with Trump to events throughout the week .
If we are n't assuming Trump had a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ working with the fact that he had a positive test on Thursday and developed symptoms later that night , you 'd likely have to go back further .
Along with the rally in Duluth , Minnesota on Wednesday , Trump also attended a private home fundraiser in Minneapolis , according to The Associated Press .
There are already a number of people in Trump 's close circle , or who have attended events with Trump , who have announced testing positive for the virus .
In addition to Hope Hicks , and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , both tested positive for the coronavirus .
Both attended the White House event for Judge Amy Coney Barrett last Saturday ( Sept. 26 ) .
The number of infected people surrounding Trump may well grow in the coming days , as more positive tests roll in .
In addition , a memo from the White House Correspondents ' Association revealed that a White House staffer who sits in the `` lower press '' area received a positive coronavirus test result , a journalist received a `` preliminary positive '' result and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House on Saturday and traveled on Air Force One to the Pennsylvania rally that night tested positive today , from CNN 's chief media correspondent Brian Stelter .
A number of the president 's close contacts have also announced preliminary negative test results , including former Vice President Joe Biden and his wife , Jill Biden , Vice President , Treasury Secretary , Secretary of State Mike Pompeo , , .
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi , Senator Dianne Feinstein and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie are still awaiting results of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ test results do n't necessarily mean a person is not infected ; it may just be that the virus has n't multiplied in the body enough to show up on tests .
The Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel has also tested positive for the coronavirus .
McDaniel , who frequently interacts with Trump and other top Republican officials , was last with Trump last Friday ( Sept. 25 ) , .
It 's not clear how she was infected but she was tested for the virus after a family member tested positive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home since last Saturday ( Sept. 26 ) , RNC spokesman Mike Reed said in a statement .
The president , who is in a high-risk group for getting severe COVID-19 due to his age , has repeatedly downplayed the severity of the pandemic .
Now that it 's personal , will he adopt a different attitude ?

U.S. president Donald Trump has tested positive for the novel coronavirus. Just how many people could he have passed the virus on to?
Normally, contact tracers try to tally up a person's close contacts starting around two days before they first start showing symptoms. But when the person in question is the President of the United States, that list can get very large, very quickly, and contact tracing can become a nightmare.
For instance, Trump attended around 15 events in various states, from the 2020 presidential debate to fundraisers and rallies over the past several days, The New York Times reported . And for at least some of that time, the virus was likely silently multiplying in his body. Seeing as he rarely wears a mask in public and continues to attend events that don't follow social distancing guidelines, he likely spread the virus to others, said George Rutherford, professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at the University of California, San Francisco.
Related: Coronavirus live updates
In particular, the president would likely have been quite infectious Thursday (Oct. 1) when he flew to a private fundraiser at his Bedminster resort in New Jersey, Rutherford said. Though it's still a bit of a jump to say at this point, "it's possible that this fundraiser will turn into a superspreading event," Rutherford said. "He could've infected a lot of people."
Typically, when a person becomes infected with the novel coronavirus, contract tracers will call that person and create a list of people who they have interacted with long enough and close enough for the virus to have infected. The contact tracers will then call all of these potentially exposed people to alert them that they should self-quarantine and get a test in order to prevent further propagation of the virus.
But because Trump has recently interacted with so many people, including other top government officials, finding and connecting with all of his contacts would be a Herculean task. The normal entities may not be trusted or able to do the tracing. "I suspect they won't turn it over to the Washington D.C. health department," but maybe the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or the Secret Service will attempt the contact tracing for the president, Rutherford told Live Science. Contact tracers typically go back 48 hours from when a person starts showing symptoms to identify close contacts, or those who have been together for at least 15 minutes within 6 feet (1.8 meters) of each other, Rutherford said.
If a person is infected on Day 0, on average, that person tests positive on Day 3, they become infectious on Day 4, develop symptoms on Day 5 and remain the most infectious (the body has the highest viral load) until about day 7 or 8, Rutherford said.
The infection timeline
"If the president is indeed getting tested every single day, which is what we hear, that means he would have tested negative on Monday, Tuesday [and] Wednesday," before testing positive on Thursday (Oct. 1), Rutherford said.
Trump and Melania were tested for the virus after news that Trump's close aide Hope Hicks tested positive for the virus, Live Science reported . Hicks had recently traveled with Trump aboard Air Force One to the presidential debate in Cleveland on Tuesday (Sept. 29) and to a Minnesota rally on Wednesday (Sept. 30).
Trump is experiencing "mild symptoms," the White House chief of staff Mark Meadows told reporters today (Oct. 2). But Trump is expected to be taken to Walter Reed Medical Center this afternoon "out of an abundance of caution," administration officials said, according to The Washington Post.
If you give it 12 hours between the time he tested positive on Thursday night and developed symptoms, "he's probably in Day 5 of illness now," Rutherford told Live Science. That likely means that he would've been infected by the virus on Monday, he said. Other estimates place the exposure date as sometime between last Saturday and Monday, according to Buzzfeed News . On Saturday (Sept. 26), Trump announced Judge Amy Coney Barrett as his Supreme Court Nominee at a huge White House Rose Garden event where many attendees did not wear a mask.
But of course, these are average numbers and these timelines can differ. Also, "this is all kind of predicated on the thought that he tested negative," on all these days, Rutherford said. "They may not be testing him every day in which case all of this gets rejumbled." In July, Trump said he was typically being tested every two to three days, according to CNN .
On Monday (Sept. 28), Trump attended an event on the White House South Lawn surveying a Lordstown Motors truck along with two Congress members and three representatives from the company, according to his schedule published by The Associated Press . He also held an event in the Rose Garden, attended by many officials, to announce the distribution of millions of coronavirus tests to states.
That means that Trump could have been infected before the 2020 presidential debate with Joe Biden on Tuesday, but probably didn't have enough viral load to test positive. What's more, some of Trump's close aides said they sensed Trump wasn't feeling well and seemed exhausted on Wednesday, according to Bloomberg . That would push back the timeline and could mean he was infectious during the debate, according to The Atlantic .
What's more, the debate moderator and Fox News anchor Chris Wallace said Friday on Fox News that the candidates' negative test results were based on an "honor system" because they were tested by their own campaigns rather than by the clinic and reported the results as negative, according to Newsweek .
Who has been infected?
To control the outbreak, contact tracers need to ask who infected the president, who else that person may have exposed, and who else the president might have exposed, Rutherford said.
One of the top priority events to investigate is the Bedminster fundraiser, because Trump was clearly infectious at that time, Rutherford said. Because it's a fundraiser, it would probably be easy for contact tracers to obtain a list of who attended, he added. (NJ.com is reporting that as many as 300 people attended that event .)
In addition to guest lists for this and other events, contact tracers will also need a list of people who flew with Trump to events throughout the week.
If we aren't assuming Trump had a negative test on Wednesday, but rather working with the fact that he had a positive test on Thursday and developed symptoms later that night, you'd likely have to go back further. Along with the rally in Duluth, Minnesota on Wednesday, Trump also attended a private home fundraiser in Minneapolis, according to The Associated Press.
There are already a number of people in Trump's close circle, or who have attended events with Trump, who have announced testing positive for the virus. In addition to Hope Hicks, Sen. Mike Lee and the University of Notre Dame's president, Rev. John I. Jenkins , both tested positive for the coronavirus. Both attended the White House event for Judge Amy Coney Barrett last Saturday (Sept. 26). The number of infected people surrounding Trump may well grow in the coming days, as more positive tests roll in. In addition, a memo from the White House Correspondents' Association revealed that a White House staffer who sits in the "lower press" area received a positive coronavirus test result, a journalist received a "preliminary positive" result and a journalist who was last at the White House on Saturday and traveled on Air Force One to the Pennsylvania rally that night tested positive today, according to tweets from CNN's chief media correspondent Brian Stelter.
A number of the president's close contacts have also announced preliminary negative test results, including former Vice President Joe Biden and his wife, Jill Biden, Vice President Mike Pence and his wife , Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin , Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Attorney General William Barr , Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner . Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Senator Dianne Feinstein and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie are still awaiting results of their COVID-19 tests, according to news reports .
But negative test results don't necessarily mean a person is not infected; it may just be that the virus hasn't multiplied in the body enough to show up on tests. The Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel has also tested positive for the coronavirus. McDaniel, who frequently interacts with Trump and other top Republican officials, was last with Trump last Friday (Sept. 25), according to CNN . It's not clear how she was infected but she was tested for the virus after a family member tested positive for COVID-19 and has been quarantining at home since last Saturday (Sept. 26), RNC spokesman Mike Reed said in a statement.
The president, who is in a high-risk group for getting severe COVID-19 due to his age, has repeatedly downplayed the severity of the pandemic. Now that it's personal, will he adopt a different attitude?
Originally published on Live Science.