BCM President, Dr. Paul Klotman, posted his May 10, 2024 video update today. The news is largely upbeat. The highlights are:
- The most common COVID strain in the US continues to be KP.2 accounting for about 1/4 of all new cases.
- Wastewater viral levels continue flat to declining.
- The most common COVID strain found in airline/airport wastewater is still JN.1 suggesting that KP.2 originated here in the US rather than abroad.
- Despite the presence of Influenza H5N1 (bird Flu) viral fragments in milk, standard pasteurization renders pasteurized milk safe. All bets are off on raw milk.
- Thus far, there have been no outbreaks of H5N1 among humans.
Early in this video, Dr. Klotman recounts a case of a 72yo European male who was continuously infected with the COVID virus for about two years. During his illness, he had almost monthly viral cultures and viral RNA sequencing. While he had COVID, the virus developed some 50 mutations before he died with a BA.1 type mutation. This is interesting because it demonstrates that individuals who harbor the virus for long periods are ideal vessels for new mutations. Such people include those on immuno-suppressive treatments, those with HIV/AIDS, and others with inborn (congenital) immunodeficiencies.
On a tangential note, this past week, from a clinical viewpoint, has been National Nurse’s week. From an astronomical viewpoint, it has been Black Hole week. I bet that some of you didn’t know that. This page is here to inform and entertain those who pause to read it. 🙂