A Message from the President
Here We Go Again by Cindy L. Russell, MD
SCCMA President
The super spreading delta variant of the COVID-19 virus is brazenly mutating to provide us with yet another surge of cases this winter of 2021, with effects significantly more dangerous in unvaccinated people. Omicron, a new South African variant of concern, has more than 30
in four states – Illinois, Michigan, New York and Pennsylvania – although the deer exhibit no symptoms and in general the disease is milder in animals. Mink are one species that appear to spread the virus and pass it back to humans. These animals
There have been a total of 777,000 COVID-19 deaths so far reported in the U.S. since beginning of the pandemic January 2020. variations of the spike protein that could not only increase the transmissibility but also evade the immune system, even in vaccinated individuals. A domino of lockdowns and travel restrictions are now being implemented, once again in many countries, while manufacturers are testing the current vaccines and boosters against Omicron. The Omicron variant has not yet been identified in the U.S. but scientists think it is only a matter of time. Uncertainty continues.
could serve as a reservoir for mutants which may impact efforts to check the virus. Sewer systems, which have identified and monitored COVID worldwide, may also prove to be reservoirs of newer viral mutants that can be transmitted to animals. “Not to sound any alarms, but everything we don’t want to see with this virus seems to happen,” said Arinjay Banerjee, coronavirus researcher at McMaster University in Hamilton, Canada.
Cats with Covid
Healthcare Workers Need a Break
There have been a total of 777,000 COVID-19 deaths so far reported in the U.S. since beginning of the pandemic January 2020. COVID-19 is reaching endemic levels, continuing to spread and mutate. The virus has now been found in dogs and cats whose owners had COVID-19, however, there is no evidence to date that pets can transmit the disease. Surprisingly, COVID-19 from humans has also been found in 40% of white-tailed deer
As we know, the pandemic has stressed the medical profession with a fresh and painful loss of healthcare workers. A Morning Consult report states that almost 1 in in 5 healthcare workers have quit their jobs during the pandemic, citing poor pay and burnout as the primary reasons.
6 | The Bulletin | Fourth Quarter 2021
Wellness and Mindfulness
Although physician burnout was described www.sccma.org
