Sunrise Over the Pacific

This view of a sunrise breaking through the Earth's horizon was taken as the International Space Station orbited 271 miles above the Pacific Ocean off the coast of southern Chile. via NASA https://ift.tt/2YYoePY

Jeanette Epps: Astronaut and Aerospace Engineer

In this image from 2018, NASA astronaut Jeanette Epps trains in a U.S. spacesuit at the Johnson Space Center. via NASA https://ift.tt/3rwM9Cv

Disease outbreak news from the WHO: Influenza A (H3N2) variant virus – United States of America

On 13 January, 2021, a child under 18 years of age in Wisconsin developed respiratory disease. A respiratory specimen was collected on 14 January. Real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing conducted at the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene indicated a presumptive positive influenza A(H3N2) variant virus infection. The specimen was forwarded to the Influenza Division of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on 21 January for further testing. On 22 January, CDC confirmed an influenza A (H3N2)v virus infection using RT-PCR and genome sequence analysis. Investigation into the source of the infection has been completed and revealed that the child lives on a farm with swine present. Sampling of the swine on the property for influenza virus has not yet been conducted but is planned. Five family members of the patient reported respiratory illness during the investigation and were tested for influenza; all tested negative. The patient was prescribed antiviral treatment and was not hospitalized and has made a full recovery. No human to human transmission has been identified associated with this investigation.

Sequencing of the virus by CDC revealed it is similar to A (H3N2) viruses circulating in swine in the mid-western United States during 2019-2020. Viruses related to this A (H3N2)v virus were previously circulating as human seasonal A (H3N2) viruses until around 2010-2011 when they entered the USA swine population. Thus, past vaccination or infection with human seasonal A (H3N2) virus is likely to offer some protection in humans.

Published on February 05, 2021
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Taken Under the 'Wing' of the Small Magellanic Cloud

The tip of the "wing" of the Small Magellanic Cloud galaxy is dazzling in this view from NASA's Great Observatories. via NASA https://ift.tt/3tuRPPf

Apollo 14 Arrives in Lunar Orbit on Feb. 4, 1971

Apollo 14 arrived n lunar orbit on Feb. 4, 1971 to prepare for the landing in and exploration of the Fra Mauro highlands. via NASA https://ift.tt/39OY4p2

Seeing Our Moon from the Space Station

The waning gibbous moon is pictured the day after its full Moon phase as the International Space Station orbited 264 miles above China near the Mongolian border. via NASA https://ift.tt/3ayzjwL

NASA Astronaut Victor Glover Works to Upgrade the Station

Victor Glover, who has accumulated 3,000 flight hours in more than 40 aircraft, over 400 carrier arrested landings and 24 combat missions, took his first spacewalk on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021. via NASA https://ift.tt/3oHbrMu