It might not seem like it, but we humans are electrical beings. We rely on electrical impulses to stay alive.

So can we rely on electrical impulses … to get swole?

Norman and Tegan investigate the various claims surrounding electrical muscle stimulation.

References 

• Functional Electrical Stimulation and Spinal Cord Injury
• Effects of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction on Quadriceps Strength, Function, and Patient-Oriented Outcomes : A Systematic Review
• Feasibility and efficacy of progressive electrostimulation strength training for competitive tennis players
• Effects of Whole-Body Electromyostimulation on the Energy-Restriction-Induced Reduction of Muscle Mass During Intended Weight Loss

The Mediterranean diet is the most well studied dietary pattern out there. So – what is it?

It’s more than just vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats and sparing consumption of meat.

Norman and Tegan take us through ALL the elements that make up this way of eating, which has been attributed to a myriad of health benefits.

References

• Scientific evidence supporting the newly developed one-health labeling tool “Med-Index”
• Mediterranean diet and health outcomes: a systematic meta-review
• Perspective: Beyond the Mediterranean Diet—Exploring Latin American, Asian, and African Heritage Diets as Cultural Models of Healthy Eating

Feeling yuck? Have you ever wondered about the purpose of all that gunk you're coughing up?

At least one of our listeners has … and she wants to know whether there’s any benefit to spitting or swallowing…

In this live episode from the World Science Festival Brisbane, Norman and Tegan take us through the answer.

As more and more people become infected with COVID-19, more and more people are also going to be reinfected.

But there's another type of reinfection known as a rebound infection, which can happen in the days after you've recovered.

The US President Joe Biden tested positive again this week for COVID-19 only a few days after he was cleared following his treatment with antiviral medication Paxlovid.

So what could be going on? How common are rebound infections and could it extend to people who don't take the drugs also being reinfected?

When the pandemic started we were so worried about surfaces. But it turned out that wasn't so much of a concern.

The big thing was the very air we breathe.

But as Governments largely scale back on mandates and restrictions, experts are urging more be done on things that can prevent spread of the virus

And the big target is better ventilation.

On today's special Coronacast, Tegan Taylor takes a look around to see how bad the air is in everyday life.

BA5 sure is making itself well known, and is responsible for soaring infection and reinfection rates right across the country.

So how does it compare in infectiousness to other diseases? Well working that out is a difficult question.

It's partly down to changing variables like vaccination and controls, but also changes to the virus itself.

So on this week's Coronacast, why it doesn't really matter if BA5 is as infectious as measles - it's still doing a lot of damage.

Also on today's show:

* Enough about BA5 - what about BA2.75? Bring on the 'Centaurus' talk!

* An update on pregnancy and COVID-19

* And BA5 in schools - will a booster help?

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It's been a month since Coronacast took a break, and since then a lot has changed.

The BA4 and 5 variants have become dominant, and immunologists are starting to worry about the state of play.

Firstly, BA4 and 5 are acting a bit like new variants. They're evading vaccines and prior infections even more than original Omicron and there's no sign they're slowing down.

And secondly, COVID case loads are surging and hospitals are feeling the pressure.

So what else has changed over the last month, and what's the rest of winter looking like?

Also on today's show:

* I'm suddenly eligible for a fourth dose. Do I bother getting it?

* Can you get the 2nd booster shot 28 days after having COVID (in line with information that re-infection can occur after 28 days), or is it still best to wait the 3 months, and if so, why is it best to wait?

* I've had two AstraZeneca and one Moderna shots. What should I have as my fourth dose?

There's been a bunch of good news this week about kids and COVID, including kids under 5 moving a touch closer to become eligible for vaccination

A Scandanavian study has shown that before babies are born, they get an immune benefit from their vaccinated mother.

Another study has looked at a rare condition that can happen in kids after COVID, called MIS-C, and found vaccinated kids are way more protected from it

And also both Pfizer and Moderna have moved slightly closer to being registered for kids under 5 in the USA.

Also on today's show:

* Are there rapid tests available to test for influenza?

* I've noticed that cases seem to be falling. Is it just that it's being under reported? I haven't heard any mention of it in the media but it's the opposite of what I expected as we head into winter.

AND WE'LL BE TAKING A BREAK FOR THE NEXT MONTH BECAUSE NORMAN IS ON HOLIDAYS. SO KEEP AN EYE ON THE FEED AND WE'LL BE BACK SOON.

This time last year, Australia's vaccination program was getting underway and many were coming forward for their first or second shots.

But Australia's haven't embraced the third dose as quickly or in as large numbers.

The third dose is vital for the best protection against disease, and is recommended for the majority of Australians.

So why aren't people coming forward as quickly?

Also on today's show:

* Is it possible that we may have caught COVID without realising it?

* Are there instances of assumed second COVID infections that are actually just relapses?

Since the variant we now know as Omicron burst onto the scene late last year, it's proved to be a shapeshifter, spawning no fewer than five subvariants so far.

Each have their own characteristics, but which is the most likely to become the dominant strain?

There's finally enough data around to start making a comparison - so which subvariant will rule them all, what features give it the advantage, and what possible tools we might use to fight it?

Also on today's show:

* If I'm triple vaccinated and COVID is everywhere, could I have encountered it and fought it off, making me even more immune now?

* What's the latest on the scary, mysterious hepatitis that's been reported in kids?

While COVID continues to ravage the world, it's far from the only virus that's affecting humans at the moment.

Cases of flu are soaring in Australia, and the Queensland Government is worried enough about it that it's offering all Queenslanders a free flu vaccination.

And to add to that is a new outbreak of monkeypox in Europe and North America with 100 suspected and confirmed cases so far, though cases have not been severe.

So what is Monkeypox, could it end up like COVID and how worried should we be?

We are only days away from the 2022 Federal Election, where we'll find out who'll be leading the country for the next few years.

But for whoever wins, there's the huge reality of dealing with and managing the ongoing COVID pandemic, which is still killing an average of 40 Australians a day.

COVID policy and response hasn't featured much during the election campaign.

So on today's Coronacast, what COVID issues will face whoever wins office next?

Also on today's show:

* Our daughter tested positive on a RAT. We had a PCR test the same day and it came back negative. So we tested again via a RAT and it was positive again. Does this mean the PCR test wasn't done properly?

* I have been diagnosed with COVID twice this year. Is this the future, COVID every 4 or 5 months?

A British COVID report has finally answered a question many have had: can you get long COVID, even after you're triple vaccinated.

And the answer is, sadly, yes. About eight to nine percent of people have some sort of long-COVID symptoms, even after they've had their third dose.

But there is some good news: long COVID is still far lower in vaccinated people than in unvaccinated.

Also on today's show:

* What's happening with second generation vaccines?

* How worried should we really be about surface transmission?

It might feel like this wrinkle-busting procedure has been around forever, but it's a relatively recent cosmetic concoction.

At first, it was a procedure for already aged skin. Now 20-somethings are using it to try prevent wrinkles from ever forming.

Norman and Tegan unpack how we got to this point, and the do's and dont's of the procedure.

References:

• The whole truth about botulinum toxin – a review
• Botulinum toxin type A for facial wrinkles - Cochrane review
• Botulinum Toxin and Muscle Atrophy: A Wanted or Unwanted Effect

While most of the Australian population is vaccinated against COVID-19, going by the amount of people who have died in 2022, this is by far the worst year of the pandemic.

More than 5000 people have died so far this year, and another 30 or 40 are continuing to die on average each day at the moment.

So on this week’s Coronacast, why have we stopped paying attention to deaths and can we do anything to reduce them?

Also on today’s show:

* Paxlovid is now part of the PBS. So what is the drug again? Who should take it? When? And why?

When Omicron burst onto the scene late last year, scientists were shocked at how many mutations it had compared to previous variants.

We now know that it's way more transmissible than previous variants and less nasty than Delta, although that hasn't stopped it from causing a lot of severe disease and death.

But biology isn't static and Omicron has continued to evolve. First came BA1, then came a new wave of BA2 and now we're starting to see another new subvariant: BA4.

So on today's Coronacast, what is BA4, where did it come from and how much of a worry is it?

Also on today's show:

* What's going on with the hepatitis condition in kids? Is it being caused by COVID-19?

China is fighting its largest coronavirus outbreak since the pandemic begun, but the lockdown being used to try and control it is facing resistance?

Videos on social media appear to show small riots breaking out in parts of Shanghai while some residents are recording themselves screaming and yelling from their apartments in desperation.

So is China's zero-COVID policy unable to withstand the onslaught of Omicron? And why is China resorting to lockdowns?

Also on today's show:

* How's COVID going in the USA?

* Omicron refresher: Do RATs work against it? What are the main symptoms? How long is the incubation?

* How much of the world has had COVID now?

The race has well and truly been on for third dose COVID-19 vaccinations, but now add to that vaccination for the coming flu season.

The past couple of years have seen a lull in flu infections because closed borders kept more than just COVID out — but that will change this year.

So what happens if you get both COVID-19 and the flu and the same time? Is it even possible? And how do you reduce the risk of that happening?

Also on today's show:

* Why isn't Australia pulling its weight when it comes to reporting on vaccine effectiveness?

As the BA2 subvariant of Omicron infects its way to the top of the coronavirus leaderboard, we're thanking our lucky stars that it's not as or more severe than Delta.

But imagine a coronavirus variant that has genes from both Omicron and Delta: enter Deltacron

The ability for two variants to combine and share genetic information is possible, and according to recent research has already happened.

So what's the possibility the next variant of concern will not be due to mutation, but instead combining?

Also on today's show:

* Antibody profile after Omicron

* What makes something a subvariant and not just a new variant?

* Lots of questions about fourth doses

With cases rising quickly again, it's left many wondering: wasn't the peak supposed to be behind us?

Well, turns out the pandemic isn't over and a mix of relaxed restrictions and the BA2 sub-variant have combined to once again push up infections.

It also shows that the rollercoaster ride that we're on may not be stopping for a while, and the up and down nature is something we'll have to get used to.

Also on today's show:

* Increase in diabetes with long COVID

* More on if we're going to need a 4th dose

The sixth season of If You're Listening tells the story of Australia's turbulent history with climate change, and what that means for the future.

As we approach a federal election where climate and energy is a key battleground, this eight episode series will examine how Australia wasted decades fighting change, instead of capitalising on it.

This is a special listen of the first episode and is the only time it'll appear in the Coronacast feed, so if you want to check it out search for "Australia, If You're Listening" where ever you get your podcasts.

Or find the links here on the ABC website: https://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/if-youre-listening/

The sub-variant of Omicron, known at the moment as BA2, is being blamed for a rise in cases in NSW and likely in other states and territories.

And overseas, Hong Kong is struggling with a wave which is killing more and more people due to low levels of vaccination in high risk age groups.

So what could the sub-variant mean for Australia as the weather slowly cools down and we enter darker, cooler times?

Also on today's show:

* China goes into lockdown in several big cities

* Australian researchers have uncovered resistance mutations to Sotrovimab

Occasionally, Coronacast gets a question from the audience that not only stumps them, it stumps the expert scientists as well.

And this week, that question came from Helen who was wondering how many people before her had COVID and passed it on to someone else, stretching all the way from her back to Wuhan in China.

It raises many interesting questions about viral evolution and how we can reduce the number of infections globally.

Also on today's show:

* BA2 Omicron sub-variant becoming more and more dominant, according to NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard

* Coronacast will be dropping back to weekly. We'll be out every Wednesday so watch your feed!

A study has found that COVID is associated with changes to the human brain in some people after they've been infected.

The study, published in the journal Nature, has found brain related abnormalities in patients six months or so after their initial infection.

The findings suggest this can happen regardless of severity but may be worse in those with severe disease

Also on today's show:

* My wife and I are in isolation at the moment after both testing positive to COVID. Her symptoms are worse than mine and she suggested I isolate in a different part of the home?

* The virus in my body is a direct descendant of the virus that infected people in the wet market in Wuhan. How many people do you think it has been through to get to me?

* If there is every chance we will all, eventually get Omicron, is there an argument to getting it sooner than later?

For the meat eaters still out there, you may be wondering how much is too much when it comes to your health.

You will have to weigh up the benefits and the harms.

Norman and Tegan take us through the recommendations, and the science to back them up.

References:

• Health effects associated with consumption of unprocessed red meat: a Burden of Proof study
• Red Meat and Processed Meat Consumption and All-Cause Mortality: A Meta-Analysis
• Plant-based diets and long-term health: findings from the EPIC-Oxford study

Did COVID escape from a lab? Was it natural evolution? How did it happen?

These are all very big questions that scientists have been working on answering ever since SARS-CoV-2 arrived in our lives in late 2019.

Now, the release of two (still to be peer reviewed) articles have outlined more evidence that COVID didn't escape a lab, and instead evolved naturally in animals before jumping to humans.

And on today's Coronacast, they may have even found the very cage in the Wuhan market where COVID made the jump.

GUEST:Professor Eddie Holmes, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney

Western Australia has reopened its border after more than a year of staying shut off from the world as part of its COVID control strategy.

While people can once again travel, WA is in the middle of a growing outbreak - but it has imposed restrictions to help flatten the curve.

With WA now open again, Australia is once again whole - so how is the nation tracking for COVID and how does 2022 compare to previous years?

Also on today's show:

* The TGA provisionally approves AstraZeneca's combination antibodies. What is it? How does it differ from vaccination? And why might it be useful?

Last year was all about the push to vaccinate adults and teens against COVID-19, and despite a slow start we certainly got there in the end.

Now this year the vaccine focus has turned to two things: third doses for adults, and first doses for younger kids.

So how is the vaccine rollout for 5-11s going? How do the vaccines work in kids and what is the latest of safety and efficacy?

Throughout history, war and disease have gone hand in hand.

As the Russian/Ukrainian war escalates, it's still too early to know what effect it'll have on the COVID-19 pandemic but it certainly won't help.

So what can we learn from previous conflicts and pandemics, like the 1918 flu pandemic or even the plague?

That's on today's Coronacast

Also on today's show:

* What can we learn from two Omicron superspreading events in Newcastle?

* Cases in WA continue to go up

* Quick(ish) Fire Friday returns!

More and more states and territories are slowly removing restrictions, and letting people try to return to a sense of a normal life.

Victoria yesterday said that masks can come off in most indoor environments from midnight Friday and Queensland is scrapping density limits and stopping daily press conferences.

So is this finally the end of the pandemic, or more just a lull between variants?

Also on today's show:

* Vaccination while pregnant safe, another study finds

* Worried about long-COVID? Here are four possible risk factors that might trigger it.

As we move to the next phases of the pandemic, there are many people who are yet to make the psychological jump and mental readjustment to a different life.

Many are only mildly anxious, but there are also groups of people who are still worried about leaving their house.

So what can you do if you have a friend or family member suffering from pandemic related anxiety or even depression?

GUEST:

Professor Frances Kay-Lambkin, a psychologist and mental health researcher at the University of Newcastle

It's taken several weeks, but the number of new COVID-19 cases in Western Australia is now increasing rapidly.

At the start of February, WA had a 7-day average of 19 cases a day. Now that average is nearly 100.

So from here, can we expect to see a very rapid increase in cases like we saw in the eastern states over Christmas/New Year?

Or could the delayed reopening and closed borders help flatten that curve?

Also on today's show:

* Victoria and NSW announce they're loosening restrictions even more

So, where's this pandemic actually heading? It's a good question and quite hard to answer as... well... no one can tell you the future.

But experts have never shied away from making some educated guesses, including SAGE, the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies in the UK.

They've published four scenarios ranging from as good as it can be given the circumstances to downright doom and gloom.

So on today's Coronacast, what does SAGE think we can expect from the pandemic over the next few years and which scenario is most likely to be right?

When COVID burst onto the scene in late 2019, it came as a shock to most of the world's population and we've all been dealing with it ever since.

But to many researchers, it was less of a surprise and more of an inevitability - and now they're urging governments to act now to stop the next one.

It comes down to the old medical saying: prevention is better than cure.

So what can be done to help prevent the next pandemic and how much will it cost?

For months now, experts have been saying we'll need three doses to be protected from coronavirus, especially the Omicron variant.

And now, it's official.

Yesterday, the rules changed and people over 16 will be required to have all three doses of a COVID vaccine to be considered "up to date".

So why make the change now when previously two vaccines were considered good enough? And might it mean for vaccine mandates down the track?

Also on today's show:

* Should me and my family just go out and get Omicron?

* Should I wait the full eight weeks to get my daughters second vaccination or should I do it at six?

* Does testing positive just after my booster reduce its effectiveness?

Apple cider vinegar is revered in wellness spaces for its health-giving benefits, but is there anything to it?

There are claims it can aid with weight loss, boost your gut microbiome and manage blood sugar levels. 

Norman and Tegan explain how this salad dressing became so famous, and what the science tells us.

References:

• Apple cider vinegar for weight management in Lebanese adolescents and young adults with overweight and obesity: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study 
• Antibacterial apple cider vinegar eradicates methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus and resistant Escherichia coli
• The improvement effect of apple cider vinegar as a functional food on anthropometric indices, blood glucose and lipid profile in diabetic patients: a randomized controlled clinical trial

Got a health question? Shoot us a line @ABCHealth on Instagram, or send a voice memo to thatrash@abc.net.au. We'd love to hear from you!

Two years into the pandemic, we're still discovering new things about COVID almost daily.

The latest is what COVID can do to your heart, a year after you've been infected.

A huge study has shown really disturbing problems from heart attacks, to strokes, to blood clots on the lungs to heart failure.

So on today's Coronacast, who is at most risk? And what does this tell us about COVID as a disease?

Also on today's show:

* International tourists - what will they bring?

* The real story about aged care

* Who needs a fourth dose, when and why?

When it comes to ways to fight COVID-19, vaccines have been the main tool we've used so far during the pandemic.

But new antivirals are being produced for use including in Australia which has recently provisionally approved two different drugs.

They promise to help stop at-risk people ending up in hospital and dying.

So what are the drugs, how do they work and will they usher in a new way of handling the pandemic?

GUEST:Professor Josh Davis, Infectious Diseases, Uni Newcastle, past president of the Australasian Society for Infectious Diseases and member of the National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce

As the Omicron wave continues to subside, there's the temptation to hope that now that it's over, the whole pandemic is done.

And while we can dream that it's true, hoping unfortunately won't help that become reality.

The general weariness is understandable for us everyday people, but what about for policy makers and their preparations for new variants or the next wave?

Also on today's show:

* Are we really at Omicron's peak?

* Can a person be infected simultaneously with two or more strains of coronavirus?

* Why aren't COVID case numbers exploding in WA?

* Will Novavax be offered as a booster?

* Can you be asymptomatic and get long COVID? Could this explain why I am so tired?

Looking at the family tree of coronavirus is a bit like taking a trip down memory lane.

The whole crew is there including the famous ones like Alpha, Beta and Delta, and the ones that never really made it into the big time.

But what if we zoom in on Omicron? Lately, there's been a bit of noise made about a few Omicron sub variants. What are they? And how much should we worry?

Also on today's show:

* TGA releases a post-market review for rapid antigen tests. What can we learn from it?

References:

https://www.tga.gov.au/post-market-review-antigen-and-rapid-antigen-tests

As the scary peaks in all states and territories in Australia, except WA, seems to be behind us, there is now a new sense of calm.

Daily coronavirus cases seem to be falling for now, and there's renewed hope that the worst of this wave is behind us.

And according to some experts, it could well be the case both here and globally.

Due to so many people now either infected by Omicron or vaccinated, they say we may be settling into a new trough of equilibrium.

So is it the end of the pandemic? Or just a calm before the next storm?

Also on this week's show:

* Deaths are still high

* WA cases are increasing. What are their options?

* Vaccines help protect against long COVID

The number of people dying from COVID hit a record high this week, as large case numbers continue in most states and territories.

It comes as no surprise then that NSW and Victoria announced that people can get their third dose at the three month mark, bringing it forward from the 31st January which was originally planned.

So why roll out boosters even earlier? Could the number of deaths be tied to people not being as protected as they could be?

Also on this week's show:

* Vaccine supply and logistics

* Novavax approved!

* Is the term "elective surgery" a bad way of phrasing it?

* Peaks? Coming soon?

* How reliable are rapid antigen tests?

* Kids vaccination, kids going back to school and keeping kids safe

We're all no doubt very tired of the pandemic by now and could be forgiven for hoping now that Omicron has landed in Australia, once we get over the current outbreak it's all over.

But according to evolutionary virologist Eddie Holmes, sadly Omicron won't be the last and in fact the next variant probably won't evolve from Omicron.

So what can we do apart from get vaccinated and hope this terrible roller coaster ride will somehow end soon?

Well, that escalated quickly.

When Coronacast left you last year, there were nearly 4000 national daily cases. Yesterday, there were more than 72,000 and there's no sign it's slowing down.

Health systems in most states and territories are beginning to groan under significant pressure.

Add to it probably more than one or two hundred thousand cases a day going unreported, it's fair to say COVID in Australia is in a bit of a mess.

So on today's Coronacast - which will be coming out weekly for at least the next few weeks - when might the peak be here? And what can we expect in coming days and weeks?

It's been a massive year for coronavirus and COVID-19.

There have been outbreaks, lockdowns and a pile of new variants.

But there have also been massive successes like the vast majority of Australians coming forward to be vaccinated.

But sadly, the pandemic seems like it's far from over.

So on today's last Coronacast of the year, we look forward to 2022 and offer some tips on how to stay safe this summer.

We'll be back around February 2022! Thanks so much for listening and writing this year.

As COVID numbers continue to rapidly increase in NSW - likely due to the Omicron variant - we're being warned that modelling is pointing to 25,000 cases a day by the end of January.

Yesterday, NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard talked about modelling by the University of NSW which said case numbers could reach heights not seen before in Australia.

And it comes as NSW continues to let its foot off the restrictions brake, redefining what a close contact is.

So is what is happening there likely to happen everywhere else in the country Omicron has found its way into?

Also on today's show:

* A very special guest!

Sometimes 24 hours doesn’t feel like nearly enough time to get everything done — those to-do lists aren't going to check themselves.

Especially when you're spending around eight hours of that time in bed.

Norman and Tegan assess whether it's possible to train yourself to sleep less without any of the negatives.

References:

• Which Is More Important for Health: Sleep Quantity or Sleep Quality?
• Sleep in the Military
• Familial natural short sleep mutations reduce Alzheimer pathology in mice
• What's That Rash? on napping and Norman's nap-time tips

There was a large jump in COVID cases in NSW yesterday, and while we're largely moving on from day to day case numbers - this one is worth talking about.

Why? Well, there's a new variant in town and health authorities are already suggesting that we can expect far more from Omicron in coming weeks.

The same goes for other states and territories - like Victoria which still has higher daily figures than NSW, but hasn't yet seen a big jump.

So on today's Coronacast what should we make of the rising caseload and does it matter?

Also on today's show:

* A deeper look at what's going on in South Africa

* An announcement on Coronacast for 2022!

After nearly two years of constant internal border changes, by the end of this week large parts of Australia will once again be open for domestic travel.

South Australia opened a few weeks ago, Queensland opened yesterday and Tasmania is due to open tomorrow.

Western Australia has also finally given a date and will reopen on the 5th of February next year.

So with state and territory bubbles bursting all over the place, what might come next for people who live there?

Also on today's show:

* How is decoupling going?

* Fourth dose anyone?

* Pregnancy and booster shots

Australia now has two different booster options to choose from when the inevitable time comes for the third dose of coronavirus vaccine.

Moderna was approved by the country's vaccine expert group ATAGI over the weekend.

We'll also be able to get the booster a month earlier, with the Government announcing a shorter period due to the threat of waning immunity and new variants.

So if Moderna is a choice, should you take it over Pfizer? Does it even matter? And why is the Moderna booster only a half shot?

Also on today's show:

* A preprint study has found that Astra seems to wane faster than other vaccines, leaving no protective effect against symptomatic disease from Omicron 15 weeks after the second dose. What could this mean for the country's booster campaign?