Latest news with #SeanLiu
New York Times
12-08-2025
- Health
- New York Times
R.S.V. Season Is Approaching. Here's How to Protect Yourself.
Respiratory syncytial virus, known as R.S.V., is one of the world's most common respiratory illnesses and the leading reason infants go to the hospital in the United States. It infects roughly 64 million people around the world each year. In the United States, it sends tens of thousands of children to the hospital annually and kills as many as 10,000 adults aged 65 and older. R.S.V. typically begins spreading in the fall, with cases peaking around mid-winter. And it can be a 'mean virus,' said Dr. Sean Liu, an associate professor of infectious diseases at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. Most people who get infected develop fairly mild symptoms, which can include coughing and wheezing, a runny nose, fever, loss of appetite and congestion. But adults 75 and older and babies are at higher risk of getting seriously sick. People with compromised immune systems and underlying chronic conditions are also more likely to die from the virus. While most people recover at home, patients with severe cases are hospitalized and may receive supplemental oxygen and IV fluids. There are more options than ever to guard against the virus. Over the last several years, the Food and Drug Administration has approved vaccines for adults and monoclonal antibodies for infants that defend against the disease — although insurance hurdles and supply challenges have at times constrained people's ability to access them. And many patients might have been unaware that they were even eligible, said Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease specialist at the University of California, San Francisco. As of this past spring, only around half of U.S. adults 75 and older had gotten vaccinated. 'The rollout wasn't quite what we were hoping,' said Dr. Seth Cohen, the medical director of infection prevention at the University of Washington Medical Center. 'This year is really the first time where it feels like we can be not just reactive, but really trying to prevent a lot of these infections.' What to know about R.S.V. vaccines for adults. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that adults 75 and older get vaccinated against R.S.V. The agency's latest guidelines also urge people 50 and older to get vaccinated if they are at higher risk for getting very sick. This includes those who live in nursing homes or have conditions like chronic heart, lung and liver disease; compromised immune systems; severe obesity; or diabetes with accompanying organ damage. (Previously the agency recommended that people who are at higher risk get the shot if they are 60 and older. The C.D.C. quietly broadened its guidance this summer.) In January, the F.D.A. added a warning to the labels of some R.S.V. vaccines about a possible link between the shots and Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare autoimmune condition that can cause nerve damage. Federal health officials found that R.S.V. vaccines might have caused a small number of cases of Guillain-Barré — around two per 100,000 vaccinated people. However, it isn't clear that the vaccines themselves caused the syndrome, and officials have said that more data was needed to determine the risk. 'It's really tricky to interpret those very, very small numbers of a very rare event,' Dr. Cohen said. And the benefits of protection, he added, outweigh the potential risk of Guillain-Barré syndrome in people who are eligible for the R.S.V. vaccination. Doctors generally recommend that people get vaccinated in the late summer or early fall, so that there's time for antibodies to kick in before cases spread. There are three vaccines available, all of which lower the risk of hospitalization and serious illness. If you've already gotten vaccinated against R.S.V., you do not need another shot. Current data shows that vaccines offer protection for at least two years; it's not yet clear whether protection could last even longer, said Dr. Chin-Hong. What to know about R.S.V. vaccines for children. Nearly every child will contract R.S.V. by the time they reach age two, but the virus can be especially dangerous for infants. Around two to three out of every 100 babies under 6 months are hospitalized with the virus each year in the United States. Some babies, including those who were born prematurely, are at higher risk for severe illness. There are two ways to protect babies: vaccinating pregnant mothers or giving infants monoclonal antibodies. Health officials recommend that pregnant women get one dose of a vaccine against R.S.V. if their final trimester (specifically, between weeks 32 and 36) falls between September and January, when the virus is circulating, so that they can pass on antibodies. This protects babies for roughly six months after they are born. Pregnant women whose third trimester falls outside of those months may not need to get vaccinated for R.S.V. Instead, doctors recommend that those babies get a monoclonal antibody shot shortly before or during their first R.S.V. season, to mimic the immune system's response to an infection. There are two monoclonal antibody shots available for infants under 8 months, one of which the F.D.A. approved this summer. What if I'm not eligible for vaccination? Those who are not in groups recommended for vaccination can still take steps to stay safe. The virus can spread when people who are infected cough or sneeze; droplets can also linger on surfaces. Frequently washing hands with soap and water, disinfecting surfaces like door knobs and maintaining good ventilation in enclosed spaces can help stop the spread, as can limiting contact with people who are experiencing respiratory symptoms, Dr. Liu said. And if you're feeling sick, consider seeing a doctor, and stay home as much as you can.
CBC
13-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
After decades of delays, developer says Summerside resort on track for 2027 opening
Social Sharing The owner of a much-delayed resort project in western P.E.I. has big plans for the property, and says it will finally be ready to open in two years' time. Ocean View Resort has sat unopened in Summerside's west end since Sean Liu purchased the property, located on around 50 acres off MacKenzie Drive, about two decades ago. The developer has now applied to city council to spend an additional $80 million to finish work on the 96-room resort building and accompanying 27-hole golf course, and to build a 53-unit condo building at the site. Nicolle Morrison, a Century 21 real estate agent who represents Liu, said the development will be a "game-changer" for Summerside once it's finished. She said residents are excited, but also acknowledged they're skeptical. "They're looking forward to it. They don't believe it, but they should start to believe because it's happening," Morrison said. "Now that we're started, we're not stopping as long as we get permits and approvals." Luxury spa never opened The opening of the property has actually been stalled since the beginning — way back in 1991, when work began on what was then known as the Dynasty Spa project. Construction stopped in 1992, a few months short of the previously announced June opening date, and never resumed. Two years later, the Supreme Court of P.E.I. ordered that the resort be auctioned off in order to pay creditors of its original owner. A group of investors put $4.5 million into the project at that point. They defaulted on the mortgage, and the property was due to be auctioned off again. In 1996, New York developer George Diercks stepped in and bought the property. He built a piece onto the original building, but never finished the resort. Liu bought the land in 2005 with plans to open a hotel, but that hasn't happened yet either. Now, Morrison said that if Summerside approves the building plans, Ocean View Resort and its golf course will be ready to open by the spring of 2027. That news has Summerside Coun. Bruce MacDougall cautiously optimistic. "I'd love to see it open. I've been waiting for the grand opening now for 25 years," said MacDougall, who has represented the area where the property is located for decades. "It's a wait-and-see game, but I'm hoping that this time… we'll have a new golf course here sometime soon." Summerside council held a special meeting last week to review the application, which involves splitting the development into two separate applications — one for the resort and golf course, and another that will allow the condos to be built. The application has now gone to the city's planning board, with a final decision expected in June. Splitting focus? But some locals, like Cindy Cameron, fear the additions to the project will create more delays. Cameron, who lives on nearby Putters Street, also said the condo development will add to local traffic, making it less safe for pedestrians in the popular walking area. "It's a little concerning that now the developer wants to start a new phase of construction without finishing the other projects," she said. "I think the community would like to see the resort and golf course finished…. We just have concerns, I think, that the developer might be splitting his focus if he starts building housing before the rest is done." Morrison said work at the site will include adding a driving range and club house and finishing the resort building, which she said just needs flooring, light fixtures and a coat of paint. Some work has started on the course, which Morrison said is being designed by Graham Cooke. His company has built numerous courses internationally and in Canada, including P.E.I.'s Andersons Creek in Stanley Bridge and Eagles Glenn in Cavendish. Morrison said the resort and course will be open and accessible to locals and tourists alike.
New York Times
27-01-2025
- Health
- New York Times
Flu Season Is in Full Swing. When Do You Need Tamiflu?
The flu is raging across the United States — and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expect cases will remain high over the next few weeks. 'It's out of control,' said Dr. Sean Liu, an associate professor of infectious diseases at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. The C.D.C. estimates that there have been at least 12 million flu infections so far this season, leading to 160,000 hospitalizations and 6,600 deaths. Doctors frequently prescribe Tamiflu, an antiviral medication, to people who are at high risk of becoming seriously ill from the flu. The drug can ease symptoms and help people recover a bit faster. But there's a catch: The medication works best if people take it soon after they feel sick, and it can be tricky to decipher whether a pesky cough or sneeze is the flu or another virus. This flu season, however, new at-home rapid tests can detect both Covid and the flu and can help you determine whether you should ask a doctor about Tamiflu. Here's what else to know about the drug. Tamiflu works against both influenza A and influenza B viruses. The drug, which can be taken as a liquid or a pill, blocks the flu virus from spreading in the body. 'It's not a magical medication,' said Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease specialist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. 'It doesn't make you instantly better, able to leap tall buildings.' But the drug can speed up a patient's recovery by about a day, which may not sound like much, but can get people back to work or school more quickly. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. Already a subscriber? Log in. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
