How St. Louis scientists are hunting for the next generation of tick-borne viruses
ST. LOUIS — A pair of hunters drove along a rutted gravel road in the forests west of St. Louis in June, a plume of dust trailing behind them. They hopped out of their SUV, knee-high gaiters cinched tight over their hiking boots, and looked for a spot to lay their trap. Their prey is […]
Air pollution in St. Louis helps fuel coronavirus spread, especially in communities of color
ST. LOUIS — The coronavirus spreads faster in areas with poor air quality, according to new research from Washington University. Researchers analyzed data on environmental, socioeconomic and health factors from a dozen U.S. cities, including St. Louis. They found that long-term exposure to microscopic air pollution and population density were both linked to faster coronavirus […]
More Than 1 Million Deaths In 2017 Linked To Burning Fossil Fuels, Wash U Study Finds
ST. LOUIS — Burning fossil fuels has created a massive, global problem: climate change. New research from Washington University finds these fuel sources also have serious health consequences. The study found more than 1 million people died worldwide in 2017 related to air pollution from burning coal, oil and natural gas. When inhaled, the microscopic […]
Rare Coronavirus Mutation Can Complicate COVID-19 Testing, St. Louis Researchers Report
ST. LOUIS — A rare coronavirus mutation can affect COVID-19 testing reliability, new research from Washington University has found. Identified in a handful of St. Louis patients last year, the mutation may make it harder for certain commercial tests to detect an infection. But researchers emphasize that the vast majority of COVID-19 tests target multiple […]
COVID Survivors Hope Experimental Therapy Will Help Them Learn To Smell Again
ST. LOUIS — Elizabeth Tesson remembers the exact moment she lost her sense of smell, the day after she tested positive for COVID-19. “I got a very odd feeling in my nose, like a burning sensation in my sinuses and along my cheeks,” said Tesson, who lives in St. Louis County. “About an hour and […]
5 Times Deadlier Than Flu, COVID-19 Has Risk Of Long-Term Effects, St. Louis VA Study Finds
ST. LOUIS — Dr. Ziyad Al-Aly has examined dozens of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in St. Louis, but he still finds it jarring to see how the virus ravages their bodies. Some have severe damage to their kidneys or liver, while in others, the muscles of the heart are dangerously inflamed. “It stops you in […]
Young Cancer Patients On Medicaid At Higher Risk of Death, Say St. Louis Researchers
Children and teenagers diagnosed with cancer in the U.S. can have a very different chance of survival based on the type of health insurance they have,…