What's That Rash?

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?

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 DeltacronThe 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