influenza Archives - Amazing Health Advances

2025: 6 Natural & Integrative Strategies to Prevent & Fight the Flu

The AHA! Team — Wed, 09 Apr 2025 05:12:29 +0000

Dr. Don Colbert – Understanding the Different Types of Influenza. There are four main types of influenza, but Influenza A and B are the most concerning for humans: ✔️ Influenza A – The most severe and capable of causing pandemics. Strains like H1N1 and H3N2 have led to major outbreaks. ✔️ Influenza B – Also responsible for seasonal flu, but does not cause pandemics. ✔️ Influenza C – Causes mild respiratory illness and is not a major health concern. ✔️ Influenza D – Primarily affects cattle and is not known to infect humans. 🔹 Dr. Colbert’s Take: The immune system is your best defense against any strain of the flu. He recommends boosting immunity naturally with a healthy diet, proper rest, hydration, and strategic supplementation. Why the Flu Changes Every Year You may have heard that the flu is “different every year.” This is because of: ✔️ Antigenic drift – Small genetic mutations in the flu virus that cause new variants to appear each year. This is why flu vaccines need to be updated annually. ✔️ Antigenic shift – A major, sudden change in the virus that can lead to a pandemic. 🔹 Dr. Colbert’s Take: Instead of relying solely on yearly flu shots, he suggests strengthening your body’s natural defenses with Vitamin D, zinc, and probiotics, which play a crucial role in immune function. What Makes Some Flu Strains Worse Than Others? Not all flu viruses are created equal. Some are far more severe due to: ✔️ Mutations – Some strains mutate in ways that make them more aggressive. ✔️ Immune response – Certain flu types trigger an intense immune reaction, leading to high fever, inflammation, and respiratory distress. ✔️ Lack of immunity – If a strain is new, most people have little to no immunity, allowing it to spread rapidly. 🔹 Dr. Colbert’s Take: A weak immune system increases the risk of complications. He recommends cutting back on sugar and processed foods, as they can suppress immune function for hours after consumption. How Contagious Is the Flu? The flu spreads easily through: ✔️ Respiratory droplets – Coughing, sneezing, and talking can spread the virus up to six feet. ✔️ Touching contaminated surfaces – The virus can survive for hours to days on objects. ✔️ Before symptoms appear – You can be contagious one day before symptoms start and up to seven days after. 🔹 Dr. Colbert’s Take: Avoid crowded places during flu season, and wash your hands frequently. He also recommends using natural antimicrobials like oregano oil and elderberry to help fight off viral invaders. How Long Does the Flu Virus Last on Surfaces? The flu virus can survive for different lengths of time depending on the surface: ✔️ Hard surfaces (doorknobs, light switches, countertops) – Up to 24–48 hours ✔️ Soft surfaces (clothing, fabric, tissues) – A few hours ✔️ Hands and skin – Minutes to hours 🔹 Dr. Colbert’s Take: Regularly disinfect surfaces in your home using natural antiviral agents like vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, and essential oils such as tea tree and eucalyptus. How Do Most People Catch the Flu? The most common ways people get the flu include: ✔️ Direct contact with infected individuals – Being around someone who is sneezing or coughing. ✔️ Touching contaminated objects – Flu germs can linger on surfaces like shopping carts, door handles, and cell phones. ✔️ Poor hand hygiene – Touching your face (eyes, nose, mouth) after contact with contaminated objects. 🔹 Dr. Colbert’s Take: One of the simplest yet most effective flu prevention strategies is washing your hands often and keeping your immune system strong with nutrient-dense foods. What to Do When a Family Member Gets the Flu If someone in your home gets sick, take these steps to protect the rest of the family: ✔️ Isolate the sick person – Have them stay in a separate room if possible. ✔️ Use separate utensils and towels – Prevent cross-contamination. ✔️ Disinfect frequently touched areas – Doorknobs, remote controls, and countertops. ✔️ Encourage hydration and rest – Proper fluids and sleep help the body recover faster. ✔️ Wear a mask – If caring for a sick family member, a mask can help reduce exposure. 🔹 Dr. Colbert’s Take: Supporting the body’s natural recovery process is crucial. He recommends bone broth, herbal teas, and immune-boosting supplements like quercetin and vitamin C to speed up recovery. Conventional Approaches: Flu Shots and Antivirals While many doctors recommend annual flu shots, Dr. Colbert believes they are not a one-size-fits-all solution. If you choose the flu shot, ensure it is thimerosal-free to avoid mercury-based preservatives. Tamiflu (oseltamivir) is commonly prescribed to shorten flu duration but may cause side effects such as nausea and dizziness. Dr. Colbert encourages natural antiviral and immune-boosting strategies before resorting to medication. 6 Integrative and Natural Strategies to Strengthen the Immune System 1. Essential Vitamins Vitamin D3: Supports immune function; recommended dosage: 5,000 IU daily. Vitamin C: An antioxidant that combats oxidative stress; take 1,000-2,000 mg daily. Zinc: Antiviral properties that reduce flu symptoms; recommended intake: 25-50 mg daily. 2. Herbal and Natural Remedies Echinacea: Boosts immune response. Oregano Oil: A natural antimicrobial. Garlic: A potent antiviral that strengthens immunity. 3. Probiotics for Gut Health A strong immune system starts with gut health. Probiotics balance gut bacteria and enhance immunity. Consume fermented foods or take a high-quality probiotic supplement. Diet and Nutrition for Flu Prevention Diet plays a crucial role in immune support. Certain foods strengthen immunity, while others compromise it. 4. Foods to Avoid Refined Sugars: Weakens white blood cells, making infections more likely. Hydrogenated Fats: Increase inflammation and slow immune response. Excess Alcohol: Depletes immune-boosting nutrients like vitamin C and zinc. 5. Foods to Include Leafy Greens: Rich in vitamins and antioxidants for immune defense. Citrus Fruits: High in vitamin C, aiding in flu symptom reduction. Garlic and Onions: Contain natural antiviral and antimicrobial properties. Bone Broth: Supports gut health and provides key immune-enhancing amino acids. Green Supremefood: A nutrient-dense blend of greens, probiotics, and antioxidants for enhanced immunity. 6. Superfood Supplements for Immune Support Green Supremefood: Antioxidants, probiotics, and nutrients to fortify immunity. Immune Support Supplement: A blend of quercetin, zinc, and elderberry, vitamin c and vitamin d3. Nano-Glutathione: A powerful antioxidant for detoxification and immune resilience. Final Thoughts Instead of solely relying on flu shots and medications, strengthening your immune system naturally can make the difference in preparing your body’s natural defenses to ward off the flu. With nutrient-rich foods, strategic supplementation, and healthy lifestyle habits, you can defend and recover from the flu effectively. By taking an integrative approach, you can restore, rebuild, and renew your body’s defenses. After all, God designed our immune system with incredible capabilities—let’s support it the right way! To read the original article click here.

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Study Suggests Natural UV Radiation Protects Against Coronavirus

AHA Publisher — Fri, 10 Jul 2020 07:00:55 +0000

Dr. Liji Thomas, MD via News-Medical Net – A new study by scientists at the University of Edinburgh and published on the preprint server medRxiv* in July 2020 suggests an interesting link between ultraviolet A radiation and deaths due to COVID-19. While this is an observational study, which means that direct inferences cannot be drawn from this finding, it does, however, suggest better strategies for reducing the death rate due to COVID-19. The COVID-19 pandemic is still spreading throughout many countries, and scientists are exploring its risk factors as part of the effort to contain the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Among the variables being considered are seasonal variations, temperature and humidity conditions, and ultraviolet irradiation. These are known to play a role in several infectious diseases already, such as influenza. Ultraviolet, Sunlight and COVID-19 Since the current pandemic has not yet completed one cycle of seasons, all these factors cannot be thoroughly evaluated. However, the level of ultraviolet (UV) irradiation in the atmosphere can be studied in relation to COVID-19 death rates. Previous research by the same team showed that sunlight can reduce blood pressure via nitric acid production, independent of vitamin D levels. Population-wide studies show that increased UV levels are related to lower blood pressure and decreased heart attack rates. This could also cause diabetes and metabolic syndrome incidence rates to fall. The Study: UV and COVID-19 in 3 Countries Since COVID-19 disease appears to have greater severity among people with these conditions, the current study explores the association between ambient UV and COVID-19 deaths in three countries, namely, the USA, England, and Italy. It looks at over 11,000 counties and areas in these countries in three independent data sets, using only those counties where the UV level was below the threshold known to induce significant vitamin D3 biosynthesis in the skin. This threshold corresponds to a monthly mean vitamin D effective UV (UVvitd) of under 165 KJ/m2. This period is termed the UV vitamin D winter and covered the months from January to April 30, 2020. The daily UV irradiance was derived from satellite data, after accounting for atmospheric absorption by water vapor and ozone. The researchers found that the daily mean UVA levels hovered between 450 to 1,000 KJ/m2 across these countries. After adjusting for demographic, socioeconomic, susceptibility, and long-term environmental variables, the researchers arrived at a multivariate analysis outcome. These include the percentage of older people, ethnic composition, low income and poverty indicators, air pollution indicators such as PM2.5, which reflects fine particulate matter in the air, and the susceptibility to infection. The latter was calculated from various factors such as the population density coupled with the percentage of positive tests and exposure in various ways, as by public transport. UVA Reduces COVID-19 Mortality The model shows that UVA levels are inversely related to COVID-19 mortality. The mortality risk ratio (MRR) is 0.73, which reflects a 27% reduction in risk with an increase of 100KJ/m2 in UVA irradiation in the USA. In England and Italy, it is 0.51 and 0.81 respectively, which means a reduction in deaths by 49% and 19% respectively. Overall, therefore, the MRR was 0.68. This effect is independent of both cold temperatures and of whether the UVA ambient levels crossed the threshold for vitamin D synthesis. An interesting finding is that the higher UVA levels produced more significant reductions in mortality risk in countries with a lower average UVA level, namely, England, compared to the USA or Italy, which have higher average ambient UVA. Mechanisms of Action The researchers suggest that UVA may act via several mechanisms. For one, the irradiation may inactivate the virus in airborne droplets and fomites, reducing the rates of spread and the size of the inoculating dose in those coming into contact with infectious material. This would lead to less severe infection. Secondly, UVA induces the release of nitric oxide from the skin, which then enters the bloodstream, causing blood vessels to dilate and reducing the blood pressure. This, in turn, promotes cardiovascular and metabolic health. This produces a reduction in the risk of death from COVID-19 since heart disease, vascular conditions, and metabolic syndrome are high-risk factors. Thirdly, UVA may reduce the replication of the virus. In SARS-CoV, it acts by s-nitrosating the spike protein, which means it cannot bind with its receptor, the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) 2. Both SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 have homologous spike proteins, and hence this action could be present in the latter as well. Fourthly, endothelial damage, and impaired endothelial nitric oxide synthase activity could be the underlying reason for extensive organ damage in severe COVID-19. UVA could reduce this as well, by promoting the photochemical reaction that produces more nitric oxide. Future Research and Conclusion The study concludes, “Our analysis, replicated in 3 independent national datasets, suggests ambient UVA exposure is associated with lower COVID-19 specific mortality.” The next step would be to confirm that this is a causal association. If so, this could be an easy way to reduce the mortality from the pandemic by advising optimal sun exposure. Moreover, the independent mechanisms could be replicated therapeutically, especially those involving circulating nitric oxide. *Important Notice medRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information. To read the original article click here.

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Viruses Can Steal Our Genetic Code to Create New Human-Virus Genes

AHA Publisher — Wed, 24 Jun 2020 07:00:58 +0000

Mount Sinai Health System via Newswise – Like a scene out of “Invasion of the Body Snatchers,” a virus infects a host and converts it into a factory for making more copies of itself. Now researchers have shown that a large group of viruses, including the influenza viruses and other serious pathogens, steal genetic signals from their hosts to expand their own genomes. This finding is presented in a study published online today and in print June 25 in Cell. The cross-disciplinary collaborative study was led by researchers at the Global Health and Emerging Pathogens Institute at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, and at the MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research in the UK. The cross-disciplinary team of virologists looked at a large group of viruses known as segmented negative-strand RNA viruses (sNSVs), which include widespread and serious pathogens of humans, domesticated animals and plants, including the influenza viruses and Lassa virus (the cause of Lassa fever). They showed that, by stealing genetic signals from their hosts, viruses can produce a wealth of previously undetected proteins. The researchers labeled them as UFO (Upstream Frankenstein Open reading frame) proteins, as they are encoded by stitching together the host and viral sequences. There was no knowledge of the existence of these kinds of proteins prior to this study. These UFO proteins can alter the course of viral infection and could be exploited for vaccine purposes. “The capacity of a pathogen to overcome host barriers and establish infection is based on the expression of pathogen-derived proteins,” said Ivan Marazzi, PhD, Associate Professor of Microbiology at Icahn School of Medicine and corresponding author on the study. “To understand how a pathogen antagonizes the host and establishes infection, we need to have a clear understanding of what proteins a pathogen encodes, how they function, and the manner in which they contribute to virulence.” Viruses cannot build their own proteins, so they need to feed suitable instructions to the machinery that builds proteins in their host’s cells. Viruses are known to do this through a process called “cap-snatching,” in which they cut the end from one of the cell’s own protein-encoding messages (a messenger RNA, or mRNA) and then extend that sequence with a copy of one of their own genes. This gives a hybrid message to be read. “For decades we thought that by the time the body encounters the signal to start translating that message into protein (a ‘start codon’) it is reading a message provided to it solely by the virus. Our work shows that the host sequence is not silent,” said Dr. Marazzi. The researchers show that, because they make hybrids of host mRNAs with their own genes, viruses (sNSVs) can produce messages with extra, host-derived start codons, a process they called “start snatching.” This makes it possible to translate previously unsuspected proteins from the hybrid host-virus sequences. They further show that these novel genes are expressed by influenza viruses and potentially a vast number of other viruses. The product of these hybrid genes can be visible to the immune system, and they can modulate virulence. Further studies are needed to understand this new class of proteins and what the implications are of their pervasive expression by many of the RNA viruses that cause epidemics and pandemics. Ed Hutchinson, PhD, corresponding author and a research fellow at MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, said, “Viruses take over their host at the molecular level, and this work identifies a new way in which some viruses can wring every last bit of potential out of the molecular machinery they are exploiting. While the work done here focusses on influenza viruses, it implies that a huge number of viral species can make previously unsuspected genes.” Researchers say the next part of their work is to understand the distinct roles the unsuspected genes play. “Now we know they exist, we can study them and use the knowledge to help disease eradication,” said Dr. Marazzi. “A large global effort is required to stop viral epidemics and pandemics, and these new insights may lead to identifying novel ways to stop infection.” This study was supported by funders including the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the UK Medical Research Council. To read the original article click here.

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Boosting Antiviral Immune Function with Green Tea

AHA Publisher — Sun, 07 Jun 2020 07:00:28 +0000

Michael Greger M.D. FACLM via Nutrition Facts – Unlike most antiviral drugs, green tea appears to work by boosting the immune system to combat diseases such as genital warts (caused by HPV) and the flu (caused by the influenza virus). According to one study, “The belief in green tea as a ‘wonder weapon’ against diseases dates back thousands of years.” I’ve talked about it in relation to chronic disease, but what about infectious disease? I explore this in my video Benefits of Green Tea for Boosting Antiviral Immune Function. Interest in the antimicrobial activity of tea dates back to a military medical journal in 1906, which suggested that servicemen fill their canteens with tea to kill off the bugs that caused typhoid fever. “However, this effect of tea was not studied further until the late 1980s” when tea compounds were pitted against viruses and bacteria in test tubes and petri dishes, but what we care about is whether it works in people. I had dismissed this entire field of inquiry as clinically irrelevant until I learned about tea’s effect on genital warts. External genital warts, caused by human wart viruses, “are one of the most common and fastest-spreading venereal diseases worldwide.” Patients with external genital warts “present with one or several cauliflower-like growths on the genitals and/or anal regions…associated with…considerable impairment of patients’ emotional and sexual well-being.” But rub on some green tea ointment, and you can achieve complete clearance of all warts in more than 50 percent of cases. If it works so well for wart viruses, what about flu viruses? As you can see at 1:41 in my video, it works great in a petri dish, but what about in people? Well, tea-drinking school children seem to be protected, but you don’t know about the broader population until it’s put to the test. If you give healthcare workers green tea compounds, they come down with the flu about three times less often than those given placebo, as you can see at 2:02 in my video. In fact, just gargling with green tea may help. While a similar effect was not found in high school students, gargling with green tea may drop the risk of influenza infection seven or eight-fold compared to gargling with water in elderly residents of a nursing home, where flu can get really serious. Unlike antiviral drugs, green tea appears to work by boosting the immune system, enhancing the proliferation and activity of gamma delta T cells, a type of immune cell that acts as “a first line defense against infection.” According to the researchers, “Subjects who drank six cups of tea per day had up to a 15-fold increase in [infection-fighting] interferon gamma production in as little as one week”—but why There is in fact a molecular pattern shared by cancer cells, pathogens, and “edible plant products such as tea, apples, mushrooms, and wine.” So, eating healthy foods may help maintain our immune cells on ready alert, effectively priming our gamma delta T cells so they “then can provide natural resistance to microbial infections and perhaps tumors.” I guess I shouldn’t have been so surprised; tea, after all, is a “vegetable infusion.” You’re basically drinking a hot water extraction of a dark green leafy vegetable. To read the original article click here. For more articles from Dr. Greger click here.

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Panicky Responses to the Coronavirus are Dangerous—Here’s Why

AHA Publisher — Tue, 18 Feb 2020 08:00:59 +0000

Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) via Newswise – The new coronavirus is still spreading rapidly, in and out of China. By January 31, barely a month after the new pathogen’s appearance on the world stage, already 62 countries had imposed restrictions on the entry of Chinese citizens. Newswise — Against the World Health Organization’s recommendations, China’s neighbors, including North Korea, Mongolia, and Russia rushed to close their land borders with China, while the United States and Australia have shut down all borders to Chinese arrivals. In Hong Kong, chief executive Carrie Lam’s decision not to fully shut the border with the mainland just gave another reason for the people to be angry at the government, as thousands of healthcare workers staged a strike to demand full border closure. Many countries evacuated their citizens from China. Airlines in Europe, North America, and Asia are cancelling their flights to the country. Italy (with only two confirmed cases) and the United States (with 11 confirmed cases as of February 3) have declared public health emergencies over the virus. Russia went as far as to indicate that it would deport foreigners infected with the virus. More are expected to follow suit in the coming days. The international responses make the urgent request from China’s U.N. ambassador for more medical supplies to help the country fight the virus look so pale and helpless. And on February 2, former Vice President Joe Biden criticized President Donald J. Trump’s response to the outbreak by saying, “This is no time for hysterical xenophobia and fearmongering.” To be fair, the rapid spread of the virus poses an immediate and present threat that justifies actions outside the normal bounds of political procedure. Emergency measures have helped mobilize political leadership and resources to address the challenges. But in the meantime, responses driven by fear may create many more problems than they could solve. First, they may complicate risk management by overestimating the danger of the coronavirus. The outbreak has hit the headlines, but the aggregate risk to human health may not be as high as all the attention would seem to indicate. As of February 13, more than 60,000 cases have been identified, including 1,370 deaths, almost all of which occurred in China. In contrast, as of January 18, the first few months of the flu season has witnessed 15 million cases of flu and 8,200 deaths worldwide. Yet it was the coronavirus that has elicited a high level of fear and panic. Such “dreaded risks,” according to author and global security expert Jessica Stern, reduces the ability of policymakers to make accurate trade-offs between mundane but widespread risks and those that are high-profile but not so common. Second, they may lead to unnecessary social distancing measures, fueling exclusionary and dehumanizing responses against certain population groups. In China, panic over the virus has led people to shun outsiders, especially those from Wuhan, which is believed to be ground zero for the virus. Internationally, the fear has triggered anti-Chinese sentiment in some Asian countries. Xenophobically treating sick or exposed people, as opposed to the virus, as the enemy only complicates the crisis. Third, effective public health policy must be built on trust, not fear. Fear and panic spawned by extraordinary government measures may have the unintended effect of creating a less cooperative society by encouraging people to shun public health workers or officials. In an era of internet and social media, the fear of the virus may spread faster than the virus itself, which only undermines effectiveness of government response. On January 23 alone, more than 300,000 people reportedly left Wuhan by train in the hours before the quarantine—announced at 2:00 a.m.—took effect at 10:00 a.m., increasing the possibility of disease spread. Those who stayed and developed flu-like symptoms then flooded the hospitals to seek medical assistance, completely overwhelming the city’s healthcare institutions. Fourth, responses informed by fear can cause huge damage to world economy. In order to minimize chances of getting infected, people would refrain from spending on current items, such as travelling or going to restaurants and theaters. Economic damage can be sustained because many measures instituted in the outbreak (e.g., cancelling flights or shutting down borders) tend to be “sticky” and not so easy to rescind. China, for example, did not lift its ban on pork product from Canada until November 2009, four months after the H1N1 swine flu activity declined in most countries. According to a World Bank estimate, 90 percent of economic losses during any disease outbreak are caused by “uncoordinated and irrational efforts of the public to avoid infection.” Finally, fear of an imminent threat provokes a competitive rush among governments worldwide to institute pharmaceutical or nonpharmaceutical countermeasures, making effective international collaboration difficult. The appeal to public health emergencies, for example, may relieve a country of any moral obligation to help other countries, especially those with low response capacities, which may in turn provide disincentives to those countries in supporting existing international health norms such as sharing disease information obliged by International Health Regulation Given the downside risks associated with the fear factor, it is imperative to ensure the revulsion invoked by the outbreak does not push us to undertake measures with unacceptable adverse impacts on public health, civil liberties, trade and economy. Rather than focus solely on emergency mobilization, it is equally important to emphasize prevention, precaution, and risk management by politically neutral professionals. Instead of provoking fear and panic, governments should provide the public with a more balanced picture of the nature and spread of the virus. Countries rolling out emergency measures are also advised to prepare an exit strategy that focuses on mitigation to minimize their potential damage to the economy and society. Equally important, the World Health Organization to should demonstrate its leadership in coordinating global response after declaring the Public Health Emergency of International Concern last week. To read the original article click here.

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New Antiviral Masks from Israel May Help Stop Deadly Coronavirus

AHA Publisher — Mon, 03 Feb 2020 08:00:18 +0000

Abigail Klein Leichman via Israel21c – Two Israeli companies are rushing to complete development of facemasks that could be vital prevention tools in epidemics like Wuhan coronavirus. As the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak continues to spread, two Israeli companies are finalizing development of revolutionary antiviral reusable facemasks. “Israel has technologies that can support controlling this epidemic,” says Liat Goldhammer-Steinberg, CTO of Sonovia in Ramat Gan. More than 100 people are reported dead from complications of Wuhan coronavirus, dubbed 2019-nCoV. The virus is spread by air and direct contact. The World Health Organization reports approximately 4,200 cases of infection since December 31. Most of the cases are in China. A few have been confirmed in 15 additional countries. Because there is no vaccine or treatment for 2019-nCoV, personal protective equipment is an important way to combat the transmission of the virus and avoid a pandemic. Disposable facemasks cannot block all pathogens and do not kill them. A used and discarded mask can even become a vector for disease as the pathogens multiply in its fibers. That’s why washable, reusable masks with anti-pathogen properties could provide a potent prevention tool against the 2019-nCoV and other coronaviruses that have evolved into more severe illnesses, such as SARS and MERS. Sonovia Seeking Partners Sonovia’s ultrasonic fabric-finishing technology, invented by two Bar-Ilan University chemistry professors, mechanically infuses antiviral, antimicrobial zinc and copper oxide nanoparticles into textiles for facemasks and other protective products. Sonovia recently received a European Commission Horizon 2020 grant and the technology has won several prizes in China. Tests have shown that Sonovia’s treated textiles work against six types of bacteria including E. coli and Staph. Effectiveness lasts for up to 100 washes at 75°C (167°F) or 65 washes at 92°C (197°F). The impregnated polyester-cotton fabric has been shown effective against some strains of influenza. It has not been tested for effectiveness against the current coronavirus. Once a lab that can do this test is identified, the process could take eight weeks, says Goldhammer-Steinberg. “We are not commercialized yet,” she stresses. “But we have a prototype machine we are willing to put into operation using treated yardage from our R&D product — if we have a partner and interest.” Interest is not a problem: Sonovia hosted visitors from China earlier this week and is receiving “nonstop calls” following media exposure. Goldhammer-Steinberg says there is enough treated fabric available to make about 5,000 to 10,000 reusable face masks. These would not be for sale, rather for partners to distribute as an emergency measure. “Right now, there is a shortage of supplies [in affected countries] so we could help decrease that stress. Even if there is a remote chance it could help, it is worth trying,” she tells ISRAEL21c. “We are actively reaching out to collaborative investors and partners from around the world because we believe there is high potential for our products to save lives.” For more information and collaborative opportunities, contact Dr. Jason Migdal at Sonovia: marketing@sonoviatech.com Argaman’s Bio-Block Mask Jerusalem-based Argaman is nearing commercialization of a reusable, washable, breathable antiviral facemask called Bio-Block. According to founder and CEO Jeff Gabbay, a textile engineer with a background in pathology and infectious diseases, Bio-Block is a layered mask. It’s made from a proprietary cotton embedded with accelerated copper oxide particles, and a nanofiber textile that blocks pathogens. “The pores of the nanofiber pad are so small that bacteria cannot go through it — nor a droplet that contains a live virus –and our EPA-approved 100% CottonX fibers destroy the pathogens that come in contact with it,” Gabbay says. “The mask not only blocks the virus but kills the viruses going both to the wearer and away from the wearer in case the wearer is infected,” he explains. An independent lab found that CottonX remains effective against Staph and E. coli bacteria for 50 industrial washings or 100 home washings. A hospital test sponsored by the US Centers for Disease Control found that CottonX bedding and gowns in the ICU reduced multi-drug resistant pathogens by 50%. This study is soon to be published, says Gabbay. Like the Sonovia textile, CottonX has not been tested for effectiveness against the 2019-nCoV coronavirus. The first 20,000 Bio-Block masks are in production in Argaman’s Jerusalem facility and will retail for about $50. They will be available in about two months. An Amazon store will be opened once the masks and other protective products are ready, says Gabbay. Meanwhile, inquiries about orders can be sent to info@argamantech.com. To read the original article click here. For more articles from Israel21c click here.

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Antiviral Compound Offers Hope Against Deadly Flu, Coronaviruses

AHA Publisher — Wed, 29 Jan 2020 08:00:23 +0000

Michigan Medicine – University of Michigan via Newswise – What keeps most infectious disease researchers up at night aren’t infamous viruses like Ebola. Instead, influenza, commonly known as the flu, continues to be a clear and present danger to humanity. Newswise — “Influenza is a huge problem, as the virus sickens or kills millions of people each year,” says David Markovitz, M.D., professor of internal medicine in the division of infectious diseases at Michigan Medicine. “A new pandemic along the lines of the 1918 Spanish flu has the potential to kill millions here and abroad.” To that end, he and an extensive team of collaborators have worked for years on broad-spectrum antiviral drugs developed from, of all things, banana plants. In a new paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Markovitz, first author Evelyn Coves-Datson, a M.D., Ph.D. student, Akira Ono, Ph.D., professor of microbiology and immunology and their team have shown that an engineered compound based on a banana lectin, a protein called H84T, has real potential for clinical use against influenza. In their experiments, more than 80% of mice exposed to a form of influenza that is typically fatal were able to survive the disease after receiving an injection of the protein, even up to 72 hours after exposure. The team also provides early evidence that the compound is safe. A downside of naturally occurring banana lectin—which can cause inflammation by inappropriately activating the immune system—wasn’t present in mice given H84T. Furthermore, because H84T is a protein, there was concern that the body would recognize it as foreign and develop antibodies against it, thereby neutralizing it or causing harm. The team found that while mice did develop antibodies against H84T, they didn’t appear to be adversely affected by them. The compound works because it targets a sugar called high mannose, which is present on the outside of certain viruses but not on most healthy cells. “We were able to show that H84T blocks the ability of the influenza virus to fuse with structures termed endosomes in the human cell, a key step in infection,” he explains. Doing so disabled their ability to replicate and wreak havoc. Amazingly, this mechanism of action, binding of high mannose sugars on the surface of viruses, means that H84T is effective not only against influenza, but also against Ebola, HIV, measles, MERS, a new deadly viral illness that was first reported in Saudi Arabia in 2012, SARS and all other coronaviruses tested. Even more promising is that the compound works where Tamiflu (oseltamivir), the current standard therapy for severe flu, has failed. “We’ve also shown that there may be a synergistic effect between H84T and Tamiflu,” says Markovitz. His team hopes to do more research with the compound in humans in the hopes of getting it to market. “We envision the government potentially stockpiling it in the event of a pandemic.” However, he says, “there are many difficulties to commercialization. Pharmaceutical economics do not seem to favor the development of antivirals or antibacterials for one-time usage, which is a huge problem.” To read the original article click here.

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Ketogenic Diet Helps Tame Flu Virus

AHA Publisher — Sat, 30 Nov 2019 08:00:08 +0000

Yale University via Science Daily – A high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet like the Keto regimen has its fans, but influenza apparently isn’t one of them. To read the original article and learn more about how this works, click here.

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