Clues From An Extraordinary COVID Patient

Plus: Confessing To Dr. Li; India Photo Essay Goats and Soda editor's note Each week we write an editor's note when we send out our newsletter. And we're always happy when you write us back. Sometimes you tell us you didn't like one of our stories or that we made a mistake. Like a couple of weeks ago when we forgot to include a link to our lede story on [why scientists are very worried about the variant from Brazil](. We blame excessive multitasking for our oops. And thanks to our keen-eyed readers, we swiftly sent out an update. But our correspondents aren't always critical. Some folks write to tell us they enjoyed the week's newsletter. That really means a lot! We'd like to start a new newsletter feature: inviting you to share your thoughts on a specific topic. For our first request, we'd like to ask for candidates for our "Links We Like" section, where we look at other media coverage of global issues, from serious to comic. Send a link to a recent story you liked on the topic of global health and development to [goatsandsoda@npr.org]( and put "links we like" in the subject line. And tell us why you'd recommend it. Look forward to hearing from you! Marc Silver Editor, Goats and Soda P.S. A colleague just shared a note that proves the pandemic hasn't quashed our sense of humor. Emanuel Goldman of Rutgers New Jersey Medical School studies the transmission of SARS-Co-V2, the coronavirus, from surfaces (aka fomites). The title of a talk he recently gave: "SARS Wars: The Aerosols Versus The Fomites." --------------------------------------------------------------- Newsletter continues after sponsor message --------------------------------------------------------------- the week's most popular story Science Source [Extraordinary Patient Offers Surprising Clues To Origins Of Coronavirus Variants]( Scientists are looking at a possible link between the mutations in the U.K. and South Africa -- and those in a patient in Boston who had living, growing virus in his body for five months. in the news Stringer/Getty Images [Dear Dr. Li: Chinese Netizens Confess To The Late Coronavirus Whistleblower]( Feb. 7 marked the one-year anniversary of Dr. Li Wenliang's death from the virus he'd been warning about. His legacy lives on through his Weibo page, which has become a kind of confessional. [Up Against Mutants, WHO Says AstraZeneca Vaccine Is Still A Good Bet]( A small study in South Africa has raised concerns about the effectiveness of the AstraZeneca vaccine, particularly in fighting virus variants. [WHO Is Fighting False COVID Info On Social Media. How's That Going?]( A year ago, the World Health Organization declared war on misinformation by partnering with Big Tech, from Facebook to Twitter to ... Uber. They're sending out public health messages. Who's tuning in? coronavirus FAQ Malaka Gharib/NPR [I'm Afraid Of Needles. Does The Coronavirus Vaccine Hurt?]( There are those among us who are needle-phobic. So what's the verdict on the pain factor of the vaccine? And are there any techniques for easing potential pain? photos Viraj Nayar for NPR [India Is Launching The World's Biggest Vaccine Rollout]( And it's an awesome undertaking. The goal is to reach 300 million by mid-summer. But there are nearly 1.4 billion people in India. Our writer and photographer capture the early moments of this campaign -- and obstacles ahead. links we like - An amputee football team in Nigeria, a wedding in Guatemala -- these are among the [award-winning images]( in the "Visual Storytelling" competition by the Independent Photographer, featured in Bored Panda. - Devex reports on plans to [deliver COVID vaccines in conflict zones.]( - [High-rises are wiping out the architectural charm of Addis Adaba]( reports The Guardian. Among the vanishing gems: Buffet de la Gare, a canteen where Ethiopian musicians performed in the 1960s and '70s. - The pandemic has [a global cast of mascots]( designed to encourage people to get vaccinated. Some of them are more than a little weird, reports The Washington Post -- like Brazil's Zé Gotinha, originally created to promote vaccination against polio and now repurposed for COVID. In English the name is: Joseph Droplet. And it goes without saying that in Japan the coronavirus mascot is a cute kitty cat. What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: [goatsandsoda@npr.org](mailto:goatsandsoda@npr.org?subject=Newsletter%20Feedback) Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can [sign up here](. Looking for more great content? [Check out all of our newsletter offerings]( — including Health, Daily News, Code Switch and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Goats and Soda emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy Policy]( [NPR logo]