Latest coronavirus news

Study of 18 million people finds increased mental illnesses incidence following severe COVID-19, especially in unvaccinated people

21 August 2024

A new study that examined health data on 18 million people reveals higher incidence of mental illnesses for up to a year following severe COVID-19 in unvaccinated people. Vaccination appeared to mitigate the adverse effects of COVID-19 on mental illnesses. The University of Bristol-led study, published in JAMA Psychiatry today [21 August], investigated associations of COVID-19 with mental illnesses according to time since diagnosis and vaccination status.

Incidence of heart attacks and strokes was lower after COVID-19 vaccination, finds study of 46 million adults

31 July 2024

A new study involving nearly the whole adult population of England has found that the incidence of heart attacks and strokes was lower after COVID-19 vaccination than before or without vaccination. The research, involving University of Bristol researchers, is published in Nature Communications today [31 July].

Dose matters: HIV drug could prevent coronaviruses, study finds

5 December 2023

Coronaviruses are a global public health risk, with three highly infectious species, including SARS-CoV-2, emerging in the last 20 years. New research by the University of Bristol has shown how an HIV drug could stop many coronavirus diseases, including the SARS-CoV-2 variants, when given to infected cells at the right concentration. The findings could strengthen the arsenal of antiviral drugs available to combat current and future coronavirus outbreaks.

New research demonstrates the ability of ADDomer™ to tackle viral infections

29 November 2023

New research has demonstrated the potential for the ADDomer ™ platform to produce thermostable vaccines and reagents to tackle viral infections The study led by the University of Bristol and Imophoron, a biopharmaceutical company developing thermostable nanoparticle vaccines using its ADDomer platform, is published in Antibody Therapeutics today [29 November].

Volunteers needed for study to look at whether shingles with COVID-19 or flu vaccines can be given at same time

12 October 2023

People aged 50 and over are invited to take part in a new University of Bristol research study looking at the co-administration of the shingles vaccine with the COVID-19 or flu vaccine.

COVID-19 grief disorder rates ‘higher than expected’

19 September 2023

Cases of Prolonged Grief Disorder among people bereaved during the COVID-19 pandemic are likely to be significantly higher than pre-pandemic, indicates new research from the University of Bristol and Cardiff University.

Long Covid not caused by COVID-19 immune inflammatory response, new research finds

4 July 2023

Long Covid, which affects nearly two million people in the UK (1), is not caused by an immune inflammatory reaction to COVID-19, University of Bristol-led research finds. Emerging data demonstrates that immune activation may persist for months after COVID-19.

Scientists discover critical factors that determine the survival of airborne viruses

21 June 2023

Critical insights into why airborne viruses lose their infectivity have been uncovered by scientists at the University of Bristol. The findings, published in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface today [21 June], reveal how cleaner air kills the virus significantly quicker and why opening a window may be more important than originally thought. The research could shape future mitigation strategies for new viruses.

£1.5 million investment to bring Bristol spin-out Halo Therapeutics first antiviral spray into clinic

22 May 2023

Clinical trials of an easy-to-use home therapeutic treatment for SARS-CoV-2 (coronaviruses) are underway following a £1.5 million investment into University of Bristol spin-out, Halo Therapeutics.

Genetic variation that protected against Black Death still helps protect against infection but increases autoimmune disease

7 March 2023

The same genetics that helped some of our ancestors fight the plague is still likely to be at work in our bodies today, potentially providing some of the population with extra protection against respiratory diseases such as COVID-19, according to research led by scientists at University of Bristol. However, there is a trade-off, where this same variation is also linked to increased autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease.

Bristol study finds third COVID-19 "booster" is associated with a substantial increase in antibodies

24 January 2023

A national study involving Bristol’s Children of the 90s has found the "booster" vaccine led to a substantial increase in the antibodies that help protect against coronavirus. High levels of antibodies is associated with lower risk of severe infection.

Rapid research projects announced to help ease NHS winter pressures

22 January 2023

Patients could benefit from a programme of 16 rapid research projects announced today [22 January] that will examine how to ease winter pressures faced by the NHS – compounded this year by COVID-19 and a record flu season, and the cost-of-living crisis.

Studies find Omicron related hospitalisations lower in severity than Delta and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID vaccine remains effective in preventing hospitalisations

12 December 2022

Adult hospitalisations from Omicron-related SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) were less severe than Delta and the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine (also known as Comirnaty and BNT162b2*) remains effective in preventing not only hospitalisation, but severe patient outcomes associated with COVID-19, two new research studies have found.

Pocket feature shared by deadly coronaviruses could lead to pan-coronavirus antiviral treatment

23 November 2022

Scientists have discovered why some coronaviruses are more likely to cause severe disease, which has remained a mystery, until now. Researchers of the University of Bristol-led study, published in Science Advances today [23 November], say their findings could lead to the development of a pan-coronavirus treatment to defeat all coronaviruses—from the 2002 SARS-CoV outbreak to Omicron, the current variant of SARS-CoV-2, as well as dangerous variants that may emerge in future.

Infectious disease modellers recognised for pandemic modelling work

10 November 2022

University of Bristol academics, Drs Ellen Brooks Pollock OBE, Leon Danon, Robert Challen, Amy Thomas and Emily Nixon have been recognised for their epidemiological modelling work supporting the UK government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Increase in non-COVID-19 respiratory infections predicted this winter

9 August 2022

An increase in the number of non-COVID-19 respiratory infections should be expected this winter, say scientists. The warning comes following the results of a new study, published in The Lancet Regional Health – Europe, which found that over 55% of respiratory disease hospitalisations during the pandemic’s peak were caused by non-SARS-CoV-2 infections.

Pfizer-BioNTech and AstraZeneca vaccines offer high protection against severe COVID-19, six months after second doses, study finds

20 July 2022

Protection against severe COVID-19 by two doses of Pfizer-BioNTech and AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines remained high up to six months after second doses, finds new research which analysed NHS health record data on over seven million adults. Reassuringly, the University of Bristol-led study published in The BMJ today [July 20], found protection in older adults aged over 65 years, and in clinically vulnerable adults.

New review of evidence highlights importance of adequate ventilation to prevent spread of COVID-19 in indoor settings

29 June 2022

Some public venues may need better ventilation to prevent the spread of COVID-19 following growing evidence of the potential for 'long distance' airborne transmission of the disease, suggests research published by The BMJ today [29 June].

Infectivity of airborne SARS-CoV-2 could decrease by 90% within 20 minutes of exhalation, new laboratory study finds

28 June 2022

The SARS-CoV-2 virus can lose 90% of infectivity when in aerosol particles within 20 minutes, according to new University of Bristol findings. The study, published in the journal of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), is the first to investigate the decrease in infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 in aerosol particles over periods from seconds to a few minutes. The aim of the study was to explore the process that could change viral infectivity over short timescales following exhalation.

Study hopes to understand the impact of exposure to COVID-19 infection early in life on a child’s brain development

27 June 2022

More than 650,000 babies are born every year [i] in the UK, and during the pandemic some of them will have been exposed to SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus which causes COVID-19. A national study, funded by the charity Action Medical Research, will investigate the long-term impact of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 in the womb or shortly after birth.

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