Daily curated COVID-19 literature
WP11 - The objective of this work package is to respond to requests concerning the current scientific knowledge on SARS-CoV-2. Based on the latest scientific literature the team will compile findings and give advice when needed
7 publications
2020-05-18
Investigation of a COVID-19 outbreak in Germany resulting from a single travel-associated primary case: a case series
Expert Summary: This study reports the time scale of SARS-COV2 transmission associated with onset of and degree of COVID-19 symptom. Patients presented predominately mild, non-specific symptoms, but infectiousness before or on the day of symptom onset was substantial. Additionally, the incubation period was often very short leasing to false negative results. These results suggest that although the outbreak was controlled, long-term global containment of COVID-19 may be difficult.
2020-04-29
Pooling of samples for testing for SARS-CoV-2 in asymptomatic people
Expert Summary: In the situation where the molecular diagnostic capacity is limited, the authors of the article have introduced the pooling of samples before RT-PCR amplification and only in case of the positive pool results they initiate individual samples analysis. With this technique, they reduced significantly the number of tests needed. They suggest pooling up to 30 samples in the initial analysis, in case of positive result sub-divide it in pools of 10 samples, and re-test to see which sub-pool is positive.
2020-04-28
Epidemiology and transmission of COVID-19 in 391 cases and 1286 of their close contacts in Shenzhen, China: a retrospective cohort study
Expert Summary: The authors were able to estimate metrics of disease transmission of 391 SARS-CoV-2 cases and their 1286 close contacts in Shenzhen (China) as there were heightened surveillance measures put in place. They show that isolation and contact tracing reduces the time in which cases are infectious in the community, reducing thus the R. They also show that children are at similar risk of infection but less likely to have severe symptoms.
2020-04-23
No SARS-CoV-2 detected in amniotic fluid in mid-pregnancy
Expert Summary: The amniotic fluid of 2 pregnant women who were previously diagnosed to be infected with SARS-Cov2 in the 1st trimester were tested for vertical transmission in the mid pregnancy. No signs of vertical SARS-Cov2 transmission were detected.
2020-04-22
Connecting clusters of COVID-19: an epidemiological and serological investigation
Expert Summary: Three clusters of Covid-19 were identified in Singapore. Serological testing of a primary patient who recovered from the illness at the time of RT-PCR diagnosis in one of the clusters, identified this patient to be past infection. Serological profile identifies convalescent cases or people with milder disease who might have been undetected by other methods.
2020-04-21
Two Middle East respiratory syndrome vaccines: first step for other coronavirus vaccines?
Expert Summary: Previously, three clinical trials have been conducted to test the immunogenicity of vaccines against Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). The comment describes differences observed in immunogenic potentials of the two MERS vaccines. It also sheds lights on questions and necessary considerations for development of corona virus-related vaccines, including ones for SARS-Cov2.
2020-04-17
Smell and taste dysfunction in patients with COVID-19
Expert Summary: It has been observed that Covid-19 is associated with the loss of taste and smell, indicating SARS-Cov2, which is currently respiratory virus, may also be neurotrophic. The authors describes historical understanding of loss of smell and taste sensing in virus infections.
