Scientists have found that coronavirus particles in fecal matter could be ejected into the air when you flush the toilet. The research, published in the journal Physics of Fluids, measured the toilet plume caused by the turbulence of flushing and saw that 40%-60% of particles reached above the toilet seat. These particles could increase the spread of coronavirus, especially since bathrooms are high-traffic, poorly ventilated areas.

The research didn’t analyze the toilet droplets for coronavirus, although it is possible that fecal matter particles will contain smaller amounts of the virus than respiratory droplets. COVID-19 is most often found in the lungs and respiratory tract, although some studies have found coronavirus in the small intestine. In addition, virus symptoms can include nausea and diarrhea.

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The study concluded with steps you can take to limit the potential spread of coronavirus through toilet particles. These include closing the toilet lid before flushing, cleaning the toilet seat before use, andwashing hands after flushing.

Sources:

• Flushing the Toilet May Fling Coronavirus Aerosols All Over – New York Times
• Can a toilet promote virus transmission? From a fluid dynamics perspective – Physics of Fluids

The United States government will fund and conduct studies on three different coronavirus vaccines, according to Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

The coronavirus vaccine effort is progressing very well and we expect more than one candidate vaccine to be in advanced clinical testing by early summer…This is good news for the overall coronavirus vaccine effort.”

Dr. Fauci, CNN

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Phase 3 trials for Moderna’s experimental vaccine will begin in July. Oxford/Astra Zeneca will be tested in August, and Johnson & Johnson will follow with their vaccine trials in September. The trials will begin after companies have enough safety and efficacy information from earlier phases. Phase 3 will take place at more than 50 sites throughout the U.S. and could involve about 30,000 people.

According to the New York Times coronavirus tracker, there are ten vaccines in phase 1, eight in phase 2, and two vaccines in phase 3. Oxford/AstraZeneca is in phase 2/3 in England and Brazil, and the company could potentially deliver emergency vaccines by October.

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Epidemiologists at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine recently carried out a study published in Nature Medicine to determine how susceptible different age groups are to getting COVID-19.

Members of the public are tested at DeCode Genetics’ service center, a few miles from its headquarters in Reykjavik, Iceland.

Image source: Decode Genetics

The study examines transmission models to determine how susceptible one is based on age. Data shows that clinical symptoms of COVID-19 show up in around 21% of people ages 10-19. Clinical symptoms show up 71% in those over the age of 70.

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If the number of infections or cases depends strongly on the role of children, countries with different age distributions could exhibit substantially different epidemic profiles and overall impact of Covid-19 epidemics,

People under 20 half as likely to catch Covid-19, study finds

Data was collected from China, Singapore, Canada, and South Korea and shows that those under the age of 20 may be 50% less susceptible to COVID-19. The CDC has also said that children may be less susceptible to COVID-19 and that adults make up the majority of the COVID-19 cases. Data also showed that children who did contract the virus were less likely to show symptoms.

Forty-three thousand pounds of raw beef produced by Lakeside Refrigerated Services in New Jersey was recalled due to E.coli contamination. The beef was produced on June 1 and sold at Wal-mart. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced the recall on Saturday.

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FSIS is concerned that some product may be in consumers’ refrigerators or freezers…Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.”

Food Safety and Inspection Service

The beef tested positive for E. coli O157: H7, a strain of E.coli that is responsible for 36% of the more than 265,000 STEC (Shiga toxin-producing E. coli) infections in the U.S. every year. The FSIS found the bacteria through routine testing and has not confirmed any adverse reactions to the contaminated beef.

The USDA recalled almost 700,000 pounds of beef in 2019. Previous years saw recalls of 13 million (2018) and 900,000 (2017) pounds of beef. In another year this recall would not be a big deal. However, the meat processing industry is still reeling from coronavirus and labor processing, and it is unclear how recalls will affect the food supply chain in 2020.

Sources:

• Over 40,000 pounds of ground beef recalled due to E. coli concerns – KSL
• Summary of Recall Cases in Calendar Year 2019 – USDA

The Food and Drug Administration has announced that it will allow certain impurities in alcohol-based sanitizers to meet the public health demands during the COVID-19 pandemic. The relaxed guidelines will directly affect fuel ethanol companies that began making sanitizer at the beginning of the pandemic.

The FDA is working with industry to ensure that harmful levels of impurities are not present if ethanol is used in these products. Based on careful review and consideration of available data, we are specifying interim levels of certain impurities that we have determined can be tolerated for a relatively short period of time, given the emphasis on hand hygiene during the COVID-19 public health emergency and to avoid exacerbating access issues for alcohol-based hand sanitizer.”

FDA

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This announcement is in direct contrast to the agency’s position in April, when it told several fuel ethanol companies that their sanitizers didn’t meet safety standards. Two ingredients under particular scrutiny are acetaldehyde, a carcinogen, and benzene.

Sources:

• U.S. temporarily to allow certain impurities in hand sanitizer – Reuters
• U.S. calls ingredients in some ethanol-based hand sanitizers unsafe – Reuters

Gardasil 9, the latest version of the well-known human papillomavirus virus vaccine, has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the prevention of HPV related throat and neck cancers. The FDA gave the drug an accelerated approval, which means their decision is dependent on more information. Merck started a study to see if Gardisil treats these cancers in February.

The oropharyngeal and head and neck cancer indication is approved under accelerated approval based on effectiveness in preventing HPV-related anogenital disease. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in a confirmatory trial. The trial is currently underway.

Merck Press Release

The trial is focused on men after researchers noticed that certain throat cancers linked to HPV were most common in middle-aged men who had contracted the virus decades earlier. Other throat cancer risks include smoking cigarettes and performing oral sex on partners with HPV.

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Introduced in 2006, Gardisil was marketed to young women and girls aged 9 to 26. Those recommendations expanded to include men and to the age of 45 in 2018 with the introduction of Gardisil 9. Demand for Gardisil has continued to increase worldwide since its introduction, with total vaccine sales reaching 3.15 billion in 2018.

Related: How To Detoxify and Heal From Vaccinations – For Adults and Children

Sources:

• FDA approves Gardasil 9, the HPV vaccine, to prevent head-and-neck cancer – Statnews
• FDA Approves HPV Vaccine to Prevent Throat Cancer – Labroots
• Unprecedented global demand for Gardasil 9 – Pharmaceutical Technology

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has decided to allow farmers who purchased dicamba-based products to use them this year, despite a June 3rd ruling by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals that canceled the product’s approval. Bayer’s XtendiMax, BASF’s Engenia, and Corteva Agriscience’s FeXapan can now be used in specific circumstances after the EPA received feedback from farmers who had already purchased the herbicides.

At the height of the growing season, the Court’s decision has threatened the livelihood of our nation’s farmers and the global food supply…Today’s cancellation and existing stocks order is consistent with EPA’s standard practice following registration invalidation, and is designed to advance compliance, ensure regulatory certainty, and to prevent the misuse of existing stocks.”

Andrew Wheeler, EPA Administrator

According to the order, distribution or sale of the dicamba-based herbicides are still prohibited unless for proper disposal or returns. Those who purchased the herbicides before the June 3rd cancellation are still able to use them. All of use of these systems must cease by July 31st.

The Center for Food Safety and the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) have already filed a motion asking the Ninth Circuit Court to hold Wheeler and the EPA in contempt for allowing farmers to use the product in defiance of the court’s decision.

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It’s mind-boggling to see the EPA blatantly ignore a court ruling, especially one that provides such important protections for farmers and the environment…We’re asking this court to restore the rule of law at the Trump EPA.”

Stephanie Parent, a senior attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity