A report on work being done at Texas Medical Center Institutions to combat COVID-19. This virus “shares some similarities with other known viruses, but it’s new to science,” said UTMB’s James Le Duc.

Victor Sierpina writes that readers may be grateful for things did not happen. He explains he and his wife are grateful they were on board the Diamond Princess the week before a patient carrying COVID-19 was onboard.

The Galveston County Daily News, March 4, 2020 - Grant will expand HPV vaccine outreach - Brain Awareness Week - Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month - Volunteers needed

UTMB’s Jim Le Duc spoke to KPRC about the coronavirus research being done at UTMB. A vaccine will take at least a year he said but scientists are also working on better tests and therapeutics.

Multiple virologists say there are clues from previous outbreaks that may help determine how the COVID-19 outbreak may end. “With SARS, once they figured out the animals responsible in China, they were able to start culling them from the live markets,” said UTMB’s Vineet Menachery. “It’s like a burst water pipe. You have to find the source in order to shut it off.” The New Zealand Herald, Anchorage Daily News and The Washington Post also published this story.

There are existing drugs, and new ones in development, that could help combat COVID-19. UTMB’s Pei-Yong Shi explains that antiviral compounds can prevent a virus from entering cells or interfere with its reproduction, slowing or stopping an infection.

Over 22,000 people signed an online petition calling for Austin’s popular South by Southwest festival to be cancelled due to COVID-19 concerns. “It’s a tough call,” said UTMB’s Philip Keiser. The Austin American Statesman also published this story.

UTMB’s Vineet Menachery contributes to this story from New Zealand on the similarities between seasonal influenza and COVID-19.

For example, emerging and reemerging viral diseases expert Thomas Ksiazek at UTMB told Business Insider that hand sanitation is one of the most important ways to stay safe. Commuting on a packed train during rush hour is the antithesis of social distancing, which Ksiazek claims has been one of the most effective ways of curtailing the spread and transmission of the coronavirus in Wuhan, China where COVID-19 first originated. Also covered by other Business Insider affiliates including Business Insider Nordic, Yahoo! News and MSN Canada.

This week, Megan Berman and Richard Rupp look at lessons learned from the recent measles outbreak in Samoa. Over 5,700 people were stricken with measles and 87 died of the infection.