Publications by authors named "Boris Relja"
Article Synopsis
- mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines, like Moderna's, are effective in reducing severe COVID-19 outcomes and have been studied for their immune responses, but less is known about antibody presence in saliva and mucosal fluids.
- A study involving 203 CDC staff members was conducted to analyze the salivary immune response by collecting saliva samples before and after vaccination, focusing on specific antibodies (IgA and IgG) against SARS-CoV-2.
- Results showed that salivary IgA levels peaked shortly after each vaccine dose, while IgG levels increased after the first dose, peaked after the second, and remained elevated for at least two months; however, more research is needed for long-term antibody tracking beyond this period.
While the COVID-19 pandemic has had a detrimental impact on many businesses worldwide, essential businesses, such as grocery stores, continued to operate despite potential disease transmission. Although the principal mode by which people are infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is through exposure to respiratory droplets and very small particles carrying infectious virus, contaminated surfaces might play a role in transmission. We collected swab samples from frequently touched surfaces, including grocery carts, touchscreen monitors, credit card keypads, pharmacy counters, self-service food utensils, and refrigerator and freezer handles, in two metro-Atlanta grocery stores over the course of two sampling events in March 2021.
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- A January-April 2021 study analyzed surface samples from 124 households with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infections, finding 27.8% of the samples were positive for the virus using RT-PCR testing.
- Nightstands and pillows were the surfaces most frequently contaminated with the virus.
- Despite the presence of SARS-CoV-2 on various surfaces, viable virus was detected in only 0.2% of samples, indicating that the risk of transmission via surfaces in households is low.