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The Volcano We're Ignoring:
How COVID's Autoimmune Legacy Might Quietly Explode into the Mainstream
A Message from Dr. McMillan
In my early research on COVID-19; I identified viral-mediated autoimmunity as the primary driver of the cytokine storm — a critical mechanism behind severe cases. This insight pointed to a clear therapeutic strategy: the earlier use of higher doses of immunosuppressants, like steroids, to reduce disease severity.
Dr. Chetty's clinical experience in semi-rural South Africa demonstrated that, with appropriate implementation, this approach could have dramatically reduced mortality. Tragically, the reluctance to adopt such measures likely cost countless lives.
History may judge this period as a profound failure of science — a missed opportunity to protect patients when they needed it most. Moving forward, we must demand more from the medical and scientific community to ensure better outcomes in future crises.
Thank you for being part of this journey for better science and care.
Dr. Philip McMillan
In this week's January 3, 2025 update:
COVID-19: COVID’s autoimmune legacy might quietly go mainstream
Vejon: This week’s featured Vejon video
Disease: Is there a COVID to norovirus connection?
Infographic: The volcano we're ignoring
News: Medical news in brief
Courses: ROOT program and McMillan monitor
Read time: 6 minutes
FEATURE ARTICLE
COVID-19
COVID-19 surveillance data shows concerning transmission rates, with over 97,000 people testing positive in the UK and high viral activity across northern states in the USA.
Research shows that COVID-19 patients develop antibodies targeting ACE2 proteins. These ACE2 proteins regulate blood pressure, wound healing, and inflammation in the body.
Data shows that at family gatherings in the UK, a single infected individual can transmit the virus to five to six others over the course of a week.
CDC data from 2024 shows rapid variant evolution, while patients experience unusual symptoms like double vision and dizziness weeks after infection.
Why is this important: New evidence suggests COVID-19 triggers a delayed autoimmune response targeting vital bodily functions, while transmission rates remain deceptively high. This combination of widespread infection and potential long-term organ damage presents a more complex threat than initially understood by the public.
DISEASE
CDC reports 91 norovirus outbreak clusters in December 2024, significantly higher than the previous years' maximum of 65 outbreaks.
Research suggests COVID-19 weakens immune defenses, potentially making people more susceptible to norovirus and other viral infections.
Norovirus is highly contagious and resilient, capable of surviving on surfaces for weeks and spreading through multiple transmission routes.
A new strain called GII.17 has become dominant this season, contributing to increased cases, with Minnesota reporting double its typical numbers.
Why is this important: Emerging connections between COVID-19 and weakened immune responses highlight potential long-term public health challenges. Understanding this relationship could help healthcare systems better prepare for future viral outbreaks and develop targeted prevention strategies for vulnerable populations.
INFOGRAPHIC
EDUCATION
You don’t have to settle for feeling less than your best. This program is built to guide you to lasting results with a roadmap to better health. Complete our survey and get the link to the McMillan Health Monitor.
MEDICAL NEWS IN BRIEF
NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
🚥 Prevalence of Post-COVID-19 Condition in Adults 8.4 Percent in 2023: Tracking the widespread impact of long COVID reveals significant health disparities across racial and economic lines, while showing that millions of Americans face ongoing activity limitations - information crucial for healthcare planning and resource allocation nationwide. [SOURCE]
🚥 Autism Prevalence Reaches 61.8 Million Globally: Understanding autism's global impact - affecting 1 in 127 people - demands urgent action for early diagnosis and support systems. With significant regional disparities and limited resources in developing nations, addressing these gaps could improve millions of lives worldwide. [SOURCE]
🚥 Immunocompromised May Not Produce Enough Protective Antibodies Against RSV After Vaccination: Understanding the reduced vaccine response in immunocompromised individuals reveals critical gaps in RSV protection for vulnerable populations, highlighting the need for tailored vaccination strategies and potentially stronger adjuvants to ensure adequate immunity in high-risk patients. [SOURCE]
🚥 Societal Inequality Linked to Reduced Brain Health in Aging and Dementia: Linking societal inequality to measurable brain changes revolutionizes our understanding of dementia's social determinants. By showing how systemic disparities physically alter brain structure, particularly in Latin American populations, these findings demand urgent policy changes to address health inequities and prevent cognitive decline. [SOURCE]
🚥 Increased Exercise Duration Linked to Decreasing Results in Weight and Waistline: Groundbreaking research has quantified exactly how much exercise reduces obesity: for every 30 minutes of weekly aerobic activity, participants lost specific amounts of weight and inches. This evidence-based confirmation of exercise guidelines arrives at a crucial time, with global obesity rates having tripled in 45 years. [SOURCE]
🚥 From Mundane to Magnificent: The Art of Living an Interesting Life: New findings reveal that beyond seeking happiness or meaning, humans inherently value "psychological richness" - experiences that challenge and stimulate our minds. By cultivating mindfulness, curiosity, and creativity in everyday moments, we can transform mundane routines into opportunities for cognitive engagement and personal growth.
🚥 Blank Slate or Born Good? Rethinking What Babies Know About Right and Wrong: Challenging longstanding beliefs about innate morality in infants impacts our understanding of human nature, child development, and moral education. This research demonstrates the importance of large-scale replication studies in establishing reliable scientific findings, especially in developmental psychology.
🚥 Nurses Need Care Too: How Curbing Self-Sacrifice Can Prevent Burnouts: Healthcare's self-sacrificing culture threatens its own sustainability. When nurses consistently prioritize patients over their wellbeing, burnout becomes inevitable. This research reveals that reframing nursing culture to value boundaries and self-care isn't just about protecting nurses—it's crucial for maintaining quality healthcare worldwide.
BOOK NOOK
"Disease X: Are You Prepared?" is your comprehensive guide to navigating the uncertain future of global health. Drawing from experience and the latest scientific insights, this book offers:
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