Are you a COVID superdodger?

'No Sex for Fish' revival; Anne Frank in Afghanistan [View this email online]( [NPR]( Goats and Soda editor's note Laura Gao for NPR We all know someone who has not come down with COVID during this pandemic. Maybe it's even you. (I was in that category for a long time ... until the new omicron variants came along and got me.) [So if you've avoided infection this long, could it be you're a superdodger?]( That's a question that researchers are investigating: Is there a genetic reason why some people have not caught SARS-CoV-2? In human history, scientists have only discovered two instances of a genetic mutation giving immunity to a disease. That would be for HIV and norovirus. The final results aren't yet in for COVID superdodgers but early findings are extremely interesting, as Michaeleen Doucleff reports in this week's blockbuster story: "So you haven't caught COVID yet. Does that mean you're a superdodger." [Read the story here.]( Marc Silver Editor, Goats and Soda whatever happened to ... Viola Kosome for NPR ['No Sex for Fish' has had an unexpected revival]( In 2019 NPR profiled a group of women fishmongers in a Kenyan village who wanted to put a stop to the transactional sex that fishermen often demanded before giving them a catch of fish to sell. The women got grants to build their own boats, hired guys to fish for them and flipped the power dynamic -- until floods inundated their village and pretty much wiped out their small fleet. Now the flood waters have receded and with the help of a new grant the women are building three new boats. "We are very happy," says Justine Adhiambo Obura, a founding member of the group. in the news Chiang Ying-ying/AP [4 ways the world messed up its pandemic response — and 3 fixes to do better next time]( A new report from the Lancet Commission sums up the many mistakes that have been made and offers proposals for a more effective global strategy if and when another pandemic should strike. [No region is 'immune' as the number of people in 'modern slavery' climbs to 50 million]( According to a new report, the number of people subject to forced labor or marriage or trafficking has increased substantially since 2016, with the majority of forced labor cases in rich countries. [A high rate of monkeypox cases occur in people with HIV. Here are 3 theories why]( Data shows that a disproportionate number of people who contract monkeypox are also HIV positive. Researchers are trying to figure out the reason. --------------------------------------------------------------- Newsletter continues after sponsor message --------------------------------------------------------------- tiny desk celebration Bob Boilen/NPR [Superstar Angélique Kidjo sings at the 1000th Tiny Desk — and speaks from her heart]( In an exclusive interview, the 5-time Grammy award-winning Beninese singer talks about her music, her activism and the honor of performing at the 1,000th Tiny Desk Concert ("I'm speechless!") books Diaa Hadid/NPR [Anne Frank's words resonate in a secret Kabul book club for girls]( The Taliban banned secondary education for girls. In one secret book club, teens gather to discuss a book from another era that they find deeply relevant: Anne Frank's The Diary of a Young Girl. links we like - The U.N. has issued a report detailing the[harassment their female staffers face in Afghanistan,]( the impact on the women themselves – who are being relegated to junior roles and left out of decision making and have seen their morale crumble. - A new project uses [motorcycle taxis to get insulin and supplies to Uganda’s diabetic children.]( The Guardian reports. - ["Delicious and Nutritious: The Unrealized Potential of Red Palm Oil"]( is the headline of a Global Health Now report. - NPR's Estefania Mitre shares stories and photos about her Mexican ["familia of dancers"]( their a legacy of love for the craft." --------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------- Stream your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to find your local station stream. [Find a Station]( 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) Norman R. Thompson 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]