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April 19, 2024
 

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Jason Gale
For Jason Gale's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
Whereas obtaining a test was often difficult in early 2020, now the abundance of cheaper rapid kits in grocery stores and home medicine cabinets has led to a new concern — they don’t seem to work.
WORLD / Science & Health / FOCUS
Jan 13, 2024
Our bodies are responding differently to COVID. Testing for it needs to catch up.
The abundance of cheaper rapid kits in grocery stores and home medicine cabinets has led to a new concern — they don’t seem to work.
A COVID-19 test swab is placed into a tube in Hilversum, the Netherlands, in November 2020.
WORLD / Science & Health
Aug 22, 2023
Two years after catching COVID, patients still risk getting sick
People who were not hospitalized for acute COVID-19 still had a higher risk than uninfected people of developing long COVID-related disorders.
Japan Times
WORLD / Science & Health
Apr 8, 2023
COVID-19 is still deadlier for patients than flu
COVID-19 isn’t 'just a flu,” with a study of hospital patients finding that the virus was still 60% deadlier than influenza last winter.
Japan Times
WORLD / Science & Health
Mar 2, 2023
Viruses hiding out in patients hold long COVID answers
Scientists are exploring the possibility that some of the most infectious versions of the virus came from chronically infected individuals with weakened immune systems.
Japan Times
WORLD / Science & Health
Dec 6, 2022
Long ICU stays lead to extended misery for many COVID survivors
The mechanical ventilation, anti-inflammatory drugs and other tools of modern medicine that help people beat severe cases of COVID-19 often come with harrowing aftereffects.
Japan Times
WORLD / Science & Health
Nov 7, 2022
Pfizer’s Paxlovid anti-viral seen to lower long-COVID risk in study
Taking the oral medication within five days of testing positive for a SARS-CoV-2 infection was linked to a 26% lower risk of lingering post-viral complications, researchers found.
Japan Times
WORLD / Science & Health
Oct 25, 2022
COVID-19 tied to higher risk of deadly blood clots, large study finds
The findings are yet another sign of the hidden dangers of the virus that can result even from mild cases.
Japan Times
WORLD / Science & Health
Oct 11, 2022
Long COVID disables millions worldwide even as rates ease, study shows
Although the probability of having long COVID-19 is relatively low, the vast number of cases — at least 670 million worldwide — leaves a substantial burden of disability.
Japan Times
WORLD / Science & Health
Sep 23, 2022
Risk of brain and nerve problems 42% higher within year of catching COVID, study shows
The coronavirus doubled the risk of Alzheimer's and increased that of an ischemic stroke or Parkinson's-like diseases by 50% in the first year, according to analysis of millions of records.
Japan Times
WORLD / Science & Health
Aug 23, 2022
Time between COVID infection and symptoms shorter with newer variants, study shows
Scientists from Peking University and Tsinghua University in Beijing found the incubation period fell from an average of five days with an alpha infection to 3.42 days with omicron.
Japan Times
WORLD / Science & Health
Aug 18, 2022
COVID-19’s harmful effects on the brain reverberate years later
Cognitive deficits known colloquially as 'brain fog,” epilepsy, seizures and other longer-term mental and brain health disorders can remain elevated 24 months after infection.
Japan Times
WORLD
Aug 12, 2022
Striking drop in stress hormone cortisol can predict long COVID, study finds
Levels of cortisol in the blood of those with the condition were roughly half those found in healthy, uninfected people or individuals fully recovered from COVID-19.
Japan Times
WORLD / Science & Health
Aug 5, 2022
COVID study gives ‘powerful’ clues to pandemic’s lasting impact
The research may help form a clearer definition of the enduring symptoms estimated to afflict as many as 5 million adults in the U.S. alone.
Japan Times
WORLD / FOCUS
Apr 16, 2022
Coronavirus persisting in feces offers clues to long COVID cause
Patients can harbor the virus in their feces for months after infection, researchers found, stoking concern that its persistence can aggravate the immune system and cause long COVID-19.
Japan Times
WORLD / Science & Health
Dec 26, 2021
The coronavirus can persist for months after traversing entire body
SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in the brains of six autopsy patients who died more than a month after developing symptoms.
Japan Times
WORLD
Dec 8, 2021
Pfizer shot provides partial omicron shield, study finds
Researchers in South Africa found omicron reduces virus-blocking antibodies by 40-fold in people who have received two doses of the shot.
Japan Times
WORLD
Dec 6, 2021
Omicron’s spread across hotel hallway highlights transmission worry
The variant has been shown to have passed between two guests at a Hong Kong hotel, despite them having not left their respective rooms.
Japan Times
WORLD / Science & Health
Nov 30, 2021
Why we shouldn't write off omicron cases as ‘mild’
The omicron variant has been reported as causing only mild illness, but this needs to be interpreted with caution as it may not reflect the variants severity across a broad range of people.
Japan Times
WORLD
Nov 29, 2021
World scrambles to gauge omicron threat after reports symptoms ‘mild’
Health experts in South Africa, where the new variant was first detected, said it appeared to cause only mild symptoms, but others warned that more data is needed.
Japan Times
WORLD / Science & Health
Nov 27, 2021
When's the best time to get a booster shot? Doctors suggest a six-month interval
A booster shot given several months after the immune system has been primed by an initial series — usually two doses of a vaccine — can invigorate its response, a leading expert said.
No link to Nankai Trough quake seen after temblor in Shikoku
Satoshi Harada from the Meteorological Agency explains about the magnitude 6.6 earthquake during a news conference early Thursday.
Thousands evacuated as Indonesia volcano erupts
Indonesia's Mount Ruang spews hot lava and smoke as seen from Sitaro, North Sulawesi, on Wednesday.
Why hasn't Japan moved to prop up the weak yen?
Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki speaks to reporters in Tokyo on Tuesday.
Snake on a train: Discovery of serpent delays Tokyo-Nagoya shinkansen
A Tokaido shinkansen. It is unclear whether the snake was venomous or how it ended up on the train, and there was no injury or panic among passengers.
In a first, Japan doctors sue Google over negative reviews on firm's map app
One of the lawyers representing a group of doctors suing Google told a news conference that the main purpose of the lawsuit is not to seek compensation but instead to raise awareness over various problems with the Google Maps system.
'House of the Owl' brings Hollywood values to Japanese TV
In the new Disney+ series “House of the Owl,” Min Tanaka (left) plays a powerful political fixer, or “kuromaku,” who has a troubled relationship with his adult children, particularly his idealistic son, played by Mackenyu.
Benefits and risks: AUKUS looks to take gamble on Japan
U.S. President Joe Biden, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and British leader Rishi Sunak deliver remarks on the AUKUS partnership, after a trilateral meeting, at Naval Base Point Loma in San Diego in March last year.
Kyoto’s demon night parade lives to haunt another day
In a Kyoto long past, the "hyakki yagyō" (100 demon night parade) haunted a sleepy corner of Kyoto. Now, one enterprising monster enthusiast has won a small batttle to keep the march alive.
U.S. deploys midrange missile system in Indo-Pacific for first time
A U.S. Army Mid-Range Capability (MRC) Launcher arrives as part of the capability’s first deployment into theater on Northern Luzon, Philippines, April 8.
Unpacking the chaotic by-election in a scandal-hit Tokyo district
People listen to a campaign speech in Tokyo's Koto Ward on Tuesday.

Podcast

From easily navigable train stations to the helpfulness of its municipal staff, Tokyo has earned high praise for its commitment to accessibility for disabled travelers.
[Rebroadcast] Japan is doing better on accessibility than you may think

Longform

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