Infectious Diseases

Several media outlets reported on the detection of the Omicron variant by UB scientists. The Buffalo News, WGRZ-TV, WIVB-TV and WKBW-TV were among outlets reporting on this story, as well as WBEN, which quoted Jennifer Surtees, associate professor of biochemistry, co-director of UB’s Community of Excellence in Genome, Environment and Microbiome, and head of the COVID-19 sequencing team at UB. Surtees said, “People who are 6 months past the second dose of Pfizer or Moderna, or two months after one dose of the J&J vaccine, are poorly protected against Omicron. The good news is that third dose, a booster, brings that protection way up again.” Thomas Russo, chief of infectious diseases in the Department of Medicine, told WKBW that, "Given how infectious Omicron is, given that immunity from prior infection and vaccination has been waning, the risk of getting infected is greater than ever."

USA Today interviewed Thomas Russo, chief of infectious diseases in the Department of Medicine in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, in a story about safely traveling during the holidays. If food or drinks are available to passengers while flying, Russo suggests waiting at least 10 minutes to unmask and eat. This gives the other passengers more time to finish their food and mask up before your own mask comes off. “If it’s a short flight, I recommend just keeping your mask on the whole time,” he said. “If it's a longer flight, if you feel you have to go ahead and do that, what you can do is you can take that sip or bite and then sort of pop that mask back on while you're chewing.” The article also appeared on Yahoo! News.

WGRZ-TV interviewed Timothy Murphy, SUNY Distinguished Professor and senior associate dean for clinical and translational research in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at UB, at length about at-home tests for COVID-19. Murphy said, “A positive at-home test means it’s highly likely that you are infected. A negative test does not necessarily rule out that you have the virus.” He noted that it is recommended that people take a test every day for a few days prior to a holiday gathering.

MSN.com reported on why some of the current treatments for COVID-19 don’t work against the omicron variant and quoted Tom Russo, chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, who said: “The Eli Lilly and Regeneron monoclonal antibody treatments are directed against the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2, and Omicron has 32 mutations and a deletion in the spike protein. Because of this, those treatments no longer bind with the virus.”

A Health article on COVID-19 and cruise ships featured Thomas Russo, chief of infectious diseases in the Department of Medicine in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. Even with the testing protocols that the most recent Royal Caribbean cruise had in place, it's still not totally unexpected that cases would pop up. Russo said, "There could be people on the boat who were infected and were asymptomatic but not infectious enough to be picked up on a test at boarding. You could test negative when you get on the boat and subsequently develop an infection."

Thomas Russo, chief of infectious disease in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences was included a Prevention story on how health officials know what strains of COVID-19 people have. When the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention releases information on percentages of variants in the U.S., they’re not analyzing every single positive test in the country to get those numbers, explained Russo.

Thomas Russo, chief of infectious disease in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences was quoted in a Yahoo! News story about how the CDC now has very specific recommendations on what, exactly, to look for in a face mask. That includes newer designations issued by ASTM International and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) that help specify exactly which masks in the U.S. are considered high quality. Russo said it’s slightly tricky.  “This is imperfect because the ASTM and NIOSH hasn’t been able to review and inspect all masks that are widely available,” said Russo. “But, if your mask does have the standard of approval, at least you know what you’re getting.” The article also appeared on MSN Canada.

In a Yahoo! News story about colleges switching to remote learning, Thomas Russo, chief of infectious diseases in the Department of Medicine in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at UB, said that he’s “not sure if it’s necessary” to shift to remote learning at this point. But, he added, “it will help curb the spread of COVID right now.” Russo said that infectious disease experts are “concerned” that college campuses with high vaccination levels are seeing large numbers of breakthrough COVID-19 cases. “Unfortunately, we’re learning that Omicron is causing a significant erosion of that protection if people haven’t had a booster shot,” he said. The article appeared on international Yahoo! News websites.

Thomas Russo, chief of infectious disease in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences spoke to WKBW-TV about Erie County tabling decision to distribute free COVID self-test kits. "The advantage of home test kits for COVID is that you can diagnose infection much more rapidly. Rapid diagnosis can be an important mitigation measure for some of those that are infected,” said Russo.

With COVID-19 boosters widely available, The Buffalo News quotes UB medical experts in a story on what it means to be "fully vaccinated." That conversation is happening at the national level right now, said Peter Winkelstein, executive director of UB’s Institute for Healthcare Informatics and clinical professor of pediatrics in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at UB. "So far, they have not changed that definition. They are debating about what the term 'fully vaccinated' really is," he said. Thomas Russo, chief of infectious diseases in the Department of Medicine, said it's understandable to be confused and frustrated by changing guidance. However, he said, "It's another example that we have to adjust. Yes, we do. We're learning more."

National Geographic quotes Thomas Russo, chief of infectious diseases in the Department of Medicine in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, in a story titled, "Why new COVID-19 treatments have been so slow to develop." “What people have to realize is that things often could look good at these earliest stages,” Russo explains, “and then they could flop in the very last lap.” Russo also emphasizes the importance of vaccines, noting that, "It’s always better to prevent a disease than to try to treat a disease."

A Yahoo! Life article on wearing masks protecting against the Omicron variant quotes Thomas Russo, chief of infectious disease in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, who said cloth face masks have a role in protecting you. “Not all cloth face masks are created equal, and having features like a metal nose wire, three layers and insertable filters will quickly ramp up protection,” according to the article. "I favor using the highest quality mask that fits well and you are comfortable wearing for a prolonged period of time," Russo says. The article ran in Yahoo! News affiliates throughout the world.

Prevention interviews Thomas Russo, professor of medicine and chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases about breakthrough variants and the Omicron variant of COVID-19. He says “there is zero doubt” that more breakthrough infections will happen as a result of the spread of the Omicron variant. “We’re already seeing this happen,” he adds. In a separate story in Yahoo! Life on COVID-19 and the holidays, Russo says, “We’re in between the twin peaks. Omicron is spreading rapidly and there will be a bump in cases of Delta, which is still the dominant COVID-19 variant. As people interact for the holidays, cases will pile on.” Russo also spoke to WGRZ-TV for a story on how to use at-home COVID-19 tests, and to Health.com about recommended vaccines.

WBFO quotes John Sellick, professor of medicine, in a story on a new pill developed by Pfizer to treat COVID-19. Merck is also developing a pill. "Neither of these has had the data published in a scientific study where everyone can look at it," said Sellick. So while results announced by Pfizer seem promising, "We have to be careful. As you know, it certainly is plausible that these would work," Sellick said.

Best Life quotes Thomas Russo, professor of medicine and chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases in a story on factors to take into account while eating on a plane during a pandemic. According to Russo, you shouldn't eat at the same time other passengers are getting their meals. Russo said it's a good idea to dig in after those around you finish their meals. This gives passengers time to put their masks back on before you take yours off to eat. Yahoo! Life also carried the story.