The 2023 Nobel Prize in Medicine has gone to Drew Weissman and Katalin Kariko for the work developing mRNA vaccines. Read more here about the promise of their work -- which was ignored and even discouraged for years by much of mainstream science.

 "Kariko was unable to drum up much interest in this idea for years."

     When the final Phase 3 data came out last November showing the  mRNA vaccines made by Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna were more than 90%  effective, Dr. Anthony Fauci had no words. He texted smiley face emojis  to a journalist seeking his reaction.   

     This astonishing efficacy has held up in real-world studies in the  US, Israel and elsewhere. The mRNA technology – developed for its speed  and flexibility as opposed to expectations it would provide strong  protection against an infectious disease – has pleased and astonished even those who already advocated for it.   

State and local health officials say they are struggling to make sense of the new Covid-19 isolation and quarantine guidelines from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

They  say the CDC released the updated advice, which cuts in half the  recommended times for staying away from others, with little consultation  or preparation.  

...

     “Having made this mistake – I am speaking as someone who has  learned over the years – this is one of the things where you hold a news  conference and you sit down and explain every aspect of it,” said Dr.  Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health  Association.   

     “You explain your decision-making process,” Benjamin told CNN. 

Read the full story here.

A traveler isolated for Covid-19 at a quarantine facility in New Zealand managed to infect three others across a hallway, researchers reported.

Closed-circuit  camera footage, genetic testing and careful contact tracing show that  the only conceivable way the virus could have passed from one room to  another was in air that leaked out when both doors were briefly opened, the researchers said.

It's a demonstration of how the virus can spread -- and of how well vaccines can work. 

Medecins Sans Frontieres usually works in war zones or developing countries. Now they're in Detroit, helping out with coronavirus.

 Here's why crowded bars are so perfect for spreading coronavirus: they are stuffy, people are close and talking with raised voices. But the lack of ventilation is a major factor, these scientists say.

This mutant form of coronavirus has taken over. But it doesn't seem to make people any sicker. 

 Single carriers kept seeding coronavirus cases early on in California. One ended up infecting 700 people on a cruise ship. Another only infected two other people.

For the full story, click here

 "The pandemic has made us feel kind of helpless." To find out who's talking, read more here.

 The federal government's "Operation Warp Speed" vaccine program, with its emphasis on quick production of experimental coronavirus vaccines, is fueling fears already stirred up by vaccine skeptics 

For the full story, click here.

Bodies of African-American Covid-19 victims were riddled with blood clots, autopsies in New Orleans show.

Read more here.

How many people have coronavirus? Sometimes, it's just a guess. That's because testing isn't as straightforward as you might think. Read more here.

When is it safe to go back out if you have been sick? The CDC has some advice for you. Also some pointers on using public transport to get back out there. Read more here.

Up to 80 million children are missing out on lifesaving vaccines because of coronavirus, the WHO says. Full story is here.

Coronavirus testing in the US is disorganized and needs better coordination, a new report finds. Find out more here.

Children may not always show symptoms of coronavirus infection, but a few may have a rare and troubling syndrome later. Here are the signs to look for.

Doctors are finding a range of effects of coronavirus, from blood clots to kidney failure. Here's why coronavirus is more than just a respiratory infection.