Here is Dr. Paul Klotman’s Week 264 video address. The highlights from this Q&A format update are.
Transplantation Science
- Xeno transplants (organ transplants from non-human mammals) have had some success. Gene-edited pig kidneys have been transplanted into humans.
- Some companies are experimenting with gene-edited pig liver transplants. One such experimental case showed that the transplanted liver survived for 10 days in a human transplant recipient without signs of rejection.
H5N1 Bird Flu
- Mice infected orally by cow’s milk that had H5N1 viurses did not respond well to current Influenza anti-viral drugs – maybe a 50% response. Tests in humans are not possible yet.
- If H5N1 infects humans in a human-to-human transmission mode, we will likely have to develop new antivirals specific to H5N1 to get the desired (curative) result.
- H5N1 vaccination would likely be the best approach to preventing a new pandemic.
Measels
- Some folks ask the question of whether vaccination or infection really provide life-long immunity to measles virus.
- Evidence suggests that immunity does wane with time. It can also be blunted by illnesses or treatments that cause immune suppression. So, anyone who has a concern about their immunity to measles should have their measles antibody levels checked (IgG for long-term immunity and IgM for short-term response).
- Pregnant folks need to have MMR if they have not been vaccinated against Measles, Mumps, and Rubella if they have not been previously vaccinated. The vaccine should protect their new infant from those infections during the first six months after birth.
Masking for Respiratory Viruses
- Air travel carries a risk of infection simply because of the number of travelers that congregate in a single, small area.
- To minimize your risk, wear a mask in the airport and boarding areas. You can consider removing it while in flight unless you hear people coughing in the plane.
- If you are not up to date on your Flu, COVID, and other respiratory vaccines, get them before you fly.
Flu
- The Flu death toll for this year is 2400 deaths including 151 pediatric deaths this year.
- The 2025 Flu season mortality toll is about average for US flu seasons.
- The COVID death toll this year is higher than the Flu toll; COVID has been a more severe infection.
Other thoughts
The Texas Measles outbreak, with its epicenter in Gaines County, has totaled 505 cases and two pediatric deaths this year. Nationwide, we have had over 607 cases and three deaths including an adult in New Mexico. There have been some sporadic outbreaks associated with international travel and not related to the Gaines Country cases. Twenty-two states have been affected thus far. This reflects the low levels of vaccination in the US, and contrary to RFK’s uneducated comments, “natural infection” is not better than vaccination and will cost many, otherwise preventable deaths.