The study, detailed Thursday in the journal Nature Medicine, could explain why so many infected people lose their sense of taste, and suggests the mouth is a major source of the spread of Covid-19. It was previously known that saliva tests were a good way to detect infection, but researchers had not looked at why.
“When infected saliva is swallowed or small particles of it are inhaled, we think it could potentially transfer SARS-CoV-2 further down our throat, lungs or even our intestines,” said Dr. Kevin Byrd of the American Dental Association Science and Research Institute, who collaborated on the study.
The mouth, nose, sinuses, throat, and lungs are connected and the virus can spread to all those regions in mucus that drains or is coughed up. They checked oral tissue samples from people who died of Covid-19 and found the virus in about half of the salivary glands they tested.
The study also found evidence that people who test negative after a nasal swab sometimes continue to test positive on a saliva test, emphasizing that even if the virus is removed from the nasopharynx – the upper part of the throat behind the nose – persist in saliva .
YOU ASKED. WE ANSWER.
Q. Can pregnant or breastfeeding women receive a Covid-19 vaccine?
A. This depends on the country you are in. In many parts of the world, Covid-19 vaccines are unavailable to pregnant women, and breastfeeding women in some places are advised against being vaccinated due to a lack of data on these groups. In the US, the CDC has not advised pregnant and breastfeeding women to take the vaccine, but it has allowed them access, arguing that it is the woman’s choice to balance the benefits and risks.
WHAT IS IMPORTANT TODAY
Dangerous variants could mean ‘all bets are off’ in the US recovery.
An increase in infections in several states “tells us that when we have a more contagious variant, all bets are off, because it means that the activities that we thought were quite low-risk will now have a higher risk” , says CNN medical analyst Dr. Leana Wen told CNN’s Anderson Cooper on Thursday.
Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, also warned on NBC’s “Today” show that the US is “still seeing about 1,000 deaths a day,” which is “way too many.”
President Joe Biden doubles the vaccination goal for the first 100 days
“I know it’s ambitious – twice our original goal – but no other country in the world has even come close to, not even close to what we do. I believe we can,” said Biden.
The EU summit ends in bickering as leaders put pressure on AstraZeneca and the UK
European Union leaders confirmed at the virtual meeting their plans to allow export vaccines bans in some situations to prevent doses from leaving the shores of the bloc as it struggles to roll out a widespread vaccination program .
ON OUR RADAR
- Do you dream of a margarita in Mexico? You can visit I Miss My Bar, an interactive website that brings the atmosphere of the Maverick bar to the city of Monterrey.
- Seychelles officials are committed to ensuring that travelers can return quickly and, most importantly, safely.
- Some workplaces, colleges, and hospitality establishments may require vaccination certificates to gain entry. Rutgers University is one of the first in the US to require vaccines for college students this fall.
- Covid has a color, Catherine Powell writes. The pandemic has exposed a series of underlying race inequalities – including jobs – that are exacerbated by the health crisis and the emerging home economy.
- The US government has stopped distributing the Covid-19 antibody treatment developed by the pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly, because authorities say the therapy on its own may not work as well against new variants.
TODAY’S PODCAST
“It is only when we have truly experienced this period of trying very hard to improve voluntary acceptance that we should consider that mandates are necessary and appropriate.” – Emily Largent, attorney and assistant professor of medical ethics.