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Health

South Carolina teen dies from COVID-19-related condition, MIS-C, that affects teens, children, DHEC says

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PEDIATRICIANS ARE SHARING WHAT PARENTS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT MISS SEE DHEC TODAY ANNOUNCED ONE ADDITIONAL CASE IN A CHILD UNDER AGE 10 IN THE UPSTATE THAT BRINGS THE TOTAL TO THREE CASES IN THE UPSTATE AND FIVE TOTAL CASES IN SOUTH CAROLINA, MISSISSIPPI OR MULTI-SYSTEM INFLAMMATORY SYNDROME IN CHILDREN CAUSES DECREASED BLOOD FLOW TO VITAL ORGANS LIKE THE HEART KIDNEYS AND BRAIN DOCTORS AT PARKSIDE PEDIATRICS, WHICH HAS OFFICES AROUND THE UPSTATE SE. MISSY IS THOUGHT TO BE AN INFLAMMATORY REACTION. HAPPENS TWO TO FOUR WEEKS AFTER A COVID-19 INFECTION. MY MESSAGE TO PARENTS WHO MAY BE WORRIED ABOUT IN MY –. HE IS THAT IT’S EXTREMELY EXCEEDINGLY RARE, BUT IT CAN BE A SERIOUS CONDITION. AND SO THERE ARE SOME THINGS TO WATCH FOR. DR. RACHEL SIGN SAYS IF YOUR CHILD HAS A FEVER FOR MORE THAN 24 HOURS AND ONE OF THE FOLLOWING SYMPTOMS THAT YOU SEE THERE ON YOUR SCREEN. THEY SHOULD BE EVALUATED AND IF YOUR CHILD IS HAVING TROUBLE BREATHING HAS A BLUISH TINT TO THEIR LIPS OR FACE OR CANNOT BE WOKEN UP EASILY. YOU SHOULD CALL 911. DR. SIGN SAYS THE BEST WAY TO PREVENT YOUR CHILDREN FROM DEVELOPING THIS C IS TO TAKE STEPS TO AVOID GETTING THE CORONAVIRUS INCLUDING SOCIAL DISTANCING WEARING A MASK AND RE

South Carolina teen dies from COVID-19-related condition, MIS-C, that affects teens, children, DHEC says

The 17-year-old in the Upstate region died from MIS-C on Jan. 27.

An Upstate teenager died this week from Multi-system Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C), a condition associated with COVID-19, according to the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC).This is the first death in the state related to MIS-C reported to DHEC. The 17-year-old in the Upstate region died from MIS-C on Jan. 27, DHEC said. To protect the privacy of the child and the family, no other information will be disclosed.“It’s heartbreaking to have to report the death of such a young person. Our condolences go out to the family and to the many families that have suffered loss related to COVID-19,” said Dr. Linda Bell, State Epidemiologist.At least 42 cases of MIS-C have been reported among children in South Carolina. MIS-C is a rare health condition that occurs in some children and teenagers who have contracted COVID-19 or been in contact with someone infected with the virus. “With the number of cases of COVID-19 we’re seeing in our state, we must be prepared for the unfortunate possibility of more children being affected by MIS-C,” said Dr. Brannon Traxler, DHEC Interim Public Health Director. “We continue to remind South Carolinians that COVID-19 is spreading in our communities at a high rate and it is vital that we all take the steps we know to protect us all from this deadly disease: wear a mask, stay 6 feet away from others, wash your hands frequently, and avoid crowds. And when your time comes, get vaccinated.”“These simple actions are how we protect ourselves and others, including our children,” Traxler said.On July 12, 2020, South Carolina announced its first confirmed cases of MIS-C associated with COVID-19. MIS-C is a reportable condition to DHEC. Symptoms of MIS-C include fever, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, neck pain, rash, bloodshot eyes and feeling tired. The vast majority of children with MIS-C recover, DHEC said. Important Information for Parents and CaregiversDHEC recommends parents and caregivers learn and watch for the signs for MIS-C in their children. Emergency warning signs of MIS-C include trouble breathing, chest pain or pressure that does not go away, confusion, inability to wake or stay awake, bluish lips or face and severe stomach pain. For more information about MIS-C, click here.

GREENVILLE, S.C. —

An Upstate teenager died this week from Multi-system Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C), a condition associated with COVID-19, according to the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC).

This is the first death in the state related to MIS-C reported to DHEC.

The 17-year-old in the Upstate region died from MIS-C on Jan. 27, DHEC said.

To protect the privacy of the child and the family, no other information will be disclosed.

“It’s heartbreaking to have to report the death of such a young person. Our condolences go out to the family and to the many families that have suffered loss related to COVID-19,” said Dr. Linda Bell, State Epidemiologist.

At least 42 cases of MIS-C have been reported among children in South Carolina. MIS-C is a rare health condition that occurs in some children and teenagers who have contracted COVID-19 or been in contact with someone infected with the virus.

“With the number of cases of COVID-19 we’re seeing in our state, we must be prepared for the unfortunate possibility of more children being affected by MIS-C,” said Dr. Brannon Traxler, DHEC Interim Public Health Director. “We continue to remind South Carolinians that COVID-19 is spreading in our communities at a high rate and it is vital that we all take the steps we know to protect us all from this deadly disease: wear a mask, stay 6 feet away from others, wash your hands frequently, and avoid crowds. And when your time comes, get vaccinated.”

“These simple actions are how we protect ourselves and others, including our children,” Traxler said.

On July 12, 2020, South Carolina announced its first confirmed cases of MIS-C associated with COVID-19.

MIS-C is a reportable condition to DHEC. Symptoms of MIS-C include fever, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, neck pain, rash, bloodshot eyes and feeling tired. The vast majority of children with MIS-C recover, DHEC said.

Important Information for Parents and Caregivers
DHEC recommends parents and caregivers learn and watch for the signs for MIS-C in their children. Emergency warning signs of MIS-C include trouble breathing, chest pain or pressure that does not go away, confusion, inability to wake or stay awake, bluish lips or face and severe stomach pain. For more information about MIS-C, click here.

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US

Novavax says its Covid-19 vaccine is 89 percent effective, but less so against South African variant

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Novavax, which is based in Maryland, has never brought a vaccine to market. The Trump administration awarded the company $1.6 billion to develop and test the vaccine, begin large-scale manufacturing and reserve 100 million doses.

Trial details: Novavax tested its vaccine in the U.K. during a period when a different variant of the virus — first detected in Britain and more transmissible than earlier versions — began circulating. The company’s analysis of the 15,000-person Phase III trial found that the vaccine was 95.6 percent effective against the original Covid-19 strain and 85.6 percent effective against the U.K. variant, B.1.1.7.

Early data from a separate 4,400-person Phase IIb clinical trial in South Africa found that the vaccine was just 49.4 percent effective against the variant first discovered in that country. More than 92 percent of sequenced PCR samples taken from Covid patients in the South African trial were identified as that variant, which is known as B.1.351.

Novavax says it is developing booster shots of its vaccine to better protect against new strains of Covid and plans to start testing them in people in the second quarter of 2021.

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Health

First US cases of South African coronavirus variant identified in South Carolina

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A mutation of the novel coronavirus that was first identified in South Africa has officially reached the United States. South Carolina health officials on Thursday announced that two cases of the variant — known as B.1.351 — were identified in two residents with no recent travel history, suggesting they were locally acquired. 

Officials with the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) in a news release said they were contacted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) after genome sequencing of a South Carolina sample was found to be the variant. 

Both cases were identified in adults, “one from Lowcountry and one from the Pee Dee region,” officials said, noting that “there is no known travel history and no connection between these two cases.”

“The arrival of the SARS-CoV-2 variant in our state is an important reminder to all South Carolinians that the fight against this deadly virus is far from over,” said DHEC Interim Public Health Director, Dr. Brannon Traxler, in a statement. 

PFIZER VACCINE BELIEVED TO BE EFFECTIVE ON CORONAVIRUS VARIANTS: WHAT TO KNOW

“We know that viruses mutate to live and live to mutate,” Traxler added. “That’s why it’s critical that we all continue to do our part by taking small actions that make a big difference. These include wearing our masks, staying at least six feet apart from others, avoiding large crowds, washing our hands, getting tested often, and when we can, getting vaccinated. These are the best tools for preventing the spread of the virus, no matter the strain.”

While experts have said that the South African variant is more transmissible than COVID-19, they do not think that it is more virulent, meaning it is not more likely to cause more severe illness. 

The CDC reiterated this in a statement on Thursday, saying, in part, that the federal agency is “early in its efforts to understand this variant and will continue to provide updates as we learn more. At this time, we have no evidence that infections by this variant cause more severe disease.”

“CDC will continue communicating with international, state, and local partners to monitor the presence and impact of variants in the United States and around the world. Monitoring variants is why CDC has expanded National SARS-CoV-2 Strain Surveillance (NS3). We continue working with national reference laboratories, state health departments and researchers from around the country to gather sequence data and increase use of genomic sequencing data in response to this pandemic,” the CDC continued, adding that it recommends people “avoid travel at this time.”

Additionally, experts have stressed that existing coronavirus vaccines will likely remain effective against the variant, with Moderna — its COVID-19 jab was the second to see emergency approval in the U.S. — expressing confidence in its vaccine’s ability to remain effective against emerging strains of the virus, including the South African variant and a separate variant first identified in the United Kingdom, following results from a yet-to-be peer-reviewed study.

CORONAVIRUS IN THE US: STATE-BY-STATE BREAKDOWN

The company had been conducting in vitro neutralization studies of sera from individuals vaccinated with the Moderna vaccine that was then exposed to the newly detected variants.

The results from the trial show no significant impact on the vaccine’s effectiveness of neutralizing the virus, despite the introduction of new variants. However, the company will forge ahead with plans to test a booster shot “to further increase neutralizing titers against emerging strains,” it said, as well as advance another variant booster candidate specifically against the South African variant.

CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE

Separately, Pfizer and BioNTech —  the companies’ COVID-19 jab was the first to see emergency approval in the U.S. —  already voiced confidence in their COVID-19 vaccine’s ability to protect against new variants. Earlier in January, the companies posted a yet-to-be peer-reviewed study that showed the jab remained effective against both the U.K. and South African strains.

Prior to its discovery in the U.S., the B.1.351 variant had already been identified in more than 30 countries around the world. 

Fox News’ Alexandria Hein contributed to this report. 

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Health

Wednesday COVID-19 update from South Carolina health officials

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More than 50% of the COVID-19 deaths reported in South Carolina on Wednesday were in the Upstate, according to data from the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC).DHEC announced Tuesday 2,621 new confirmed cases of the coronavirus and 88 additional confirmed deaths. Forty-nine of those deaths were in the Upstate. Please click here for the county of residence and date of death for each person whose death was reported.This brings the total number of people with confirmed cases since the outbreak began to 384,556 and confirmed deaths to 6,030. DHEC also announced 228 new probable cases of the virus and nine new probable deaths. That brings the total number of probable cases to 42,675 and the total number of probable deaths to 643 in the state since the outbreak began.To see virus spread by county, check out the link below of new confirmed and probable cases. Cases are counted by a patient’s ZIP code of residence. DHEC says the percent positive from the 10,470 tests most recently reported to them was 25.0% (not including antibody tests).

GREENVILLE, S.C. —

More than 50% of the COVID-19 deaths reported in South Carolina on Wednesday were in the Upstate, according to data from the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC).

DHEC announced Tuesday 2,621 new confirmed cases of the coronavirus and 88 additional confirmed deaths. Forty-nine of those deaths were in the Upstate.

Please click here for the county of residence and date of death for each person whose death was reported.

This brings the total number of people with confirmed cases since the outbreak began to 384,556 and confirmed deaths to 6,030.

DHEC also announced 228 new probable cases of the virus and nine new probable deaths. That brings the total number of probable cases to 42,675 and the total number of probable deaths to 643 in the state since the outbreak began.

To see virus spread by county, check out the link below of new confirmed and probable cases. Cases are counted by a patient’s ZIP code of residence.

DHEC says the percent positive from the 10,470 tests most recently reported to them was 25.0% (not including antibody tests).

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Entertainment

South Korean model and actress, Song Yoo Jung, dead at 26

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South Korean actress and model Song Yoo Jung died over the weekend, reports said Monday. 

The 26-year-old star died on Saturday and was laid to rest during a quiet, private funeral, her management company Sublime Artist Agency confirmed to Newsweek. 

“Actress Song Yoo Jung departed this life on January 23, 2021. In accordance with the wishes of her family, the funeral was held quietly and the funeral procession takes place on January 25,” the agency wrote in the statement, according to the outlet.  

“Song Yoo Jung was a friend of ours who always gave us joy with her bright smile, and she was a wonderful actress who acted with heated passion. Please pray for the repose of her soul so that she may rest in peace in a warm place.” 

The funeral was held at a branch of the Seoul Medical Center in the capital’s Gangnam district, the outlet reported, citing Yonhap News. 

Another local outlet, yclick.co.kr, said the woman’s cause of death could not be revealed, Newsweek reported. 

 “It’s impossible to know exactly what kind of worries she had,” an unnamed close friend of Jung told Osen, according to Newsweek. 

“It had been quite a while since she debuted in the entertainment industry and she worried that she didn’t get to properly shine in the spotlight of it. She also previously talked about her difficulties in life.” 

Jung, who’d appeared in a number of Korean dramas and was also featured in a music video for the K-pop group iKON, spoke to local media in 2019 about the challenges she faced with acting. 

“I tried to do my best given the situation I was in,” Jung told yclick.co.kr at the time, according to Newsweek. 

“I think this waiting period was necessary for me as well.” 

Jung made her debut on the big screen when she appeared in Golden Rainbow in 2013, the outlet reported. She has since appeared in Tell Me Your Wish in 2014, School 2017 in 2017 and the online series To My Name in 2019. She has also been featured in advertisements for home appliances, coffee and cosmetics and her Instagram includes dozens of modeling photos.



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US

U.S. carrier group enters South China Sea amid Taiwan tensions

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TAIPEI (Reuters) – A U.S. aircraft carrier group led by the USS Theodore Roosevelt has entered the South China Sea to promote “freedom of the seas”, the U.S. military said on Sunday, at a time when tensions between China and Taiwan have raised concern in Washington.

U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said in a statement the strike group entered the South China Sea on Saturday, the same day Taiwan reported a large incursion of Chinese bombers and fighter jets into its air defence identification zone in the vicinity of the Pratas Islands.

The U.S. military said the carrier strike group was in the South China Sea, a large part of which is claimed by China, to conduct routine operations “to ensure freedom of the seas, build partnerships that foster maritime security”.

“After sailing through these waters throughout my 30-year career, it’s great to be in the South China Sea again, conducting routine operations, promoting freedom of the seas, and reassuring allies and partners,” Rear Adm. Doug Verissimo, commander of the strike group, was quoted as saying.

“With two-thirds of the world’s trade travelling through this very important region, it is vital that we maintain our presence and continue to promote the rules-based order which has allowed us all to prosper,” Verissimo said in the statement.

The announcement comes just days after Joe Biden was sworn in as U.S. president.

Biden’s nominee for secretary of state, Antony Blinken, told his Senate confirmation hearing on Tuesday there was “no doubt” China posed the most significant challenge to the United States of any nation.

China has repeatedly complained about U.S. Navy ships getting close to Chinese-occupied islands in the South China Sea, where Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei and Taiwan all have competing claims.

The Theodore Roosevelt is being accompanied by the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill, and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Russell and USS John Finn, the U.S. statement said.

(Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Tom Hogue)

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Health

Studies of South African Coronavirus Strain Raise Concerns About Immune Response

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JOHANNESBURG—Three new laboratory studies are raising concerns that the immune response triggered by a Covid-19 infection or vaccination may be less effective at protecting against the new strain of the coronavirus that first emerged in South Africa.

The findings come from experiments done in the laboratory and only look at certain elements of a body’s immune response. Still, they reinforce the possibility that vaccine makers and regulators will need to update Covid-19 vaccines as the virus evolves.

A fourth study, conducted by scientists at BioNTech SE and Pfizer Inc. and published by the companies, showed that their vaccine successfully neutralized a variant that was initially detected in the U.K. That study didn’t include the South African strain.

The U.K. variant has already spread to many other countries, including the U.S.

More than a year into the pandemic, the discovery of new variants that appear to have made the virus more contagious is forcing researchers to adapt their understanding of the coronavirus that causes Covid-19. One concern, researchers said, is that the new strains are emerging in countries where a significant percentage of people have already built up an immune response to earlier variants after getting Covid-19.

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