People sickened with COVID-19 produce "high-quality" antibodies against the virus five to seven months after they become infected, according to an analysis published Tuesday by the journal Immunity. The findings suggest that those infected with the new coronavirus potentially can develop long-lasting immunity to it, researchers from the University of Arizona Health Sciences said.

Immunity against COVID-19 may persist for at least five months after being infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, according to a study led by an Indian-origin researcher in the US. The researchers from the University of Arizona Health Sciences studied the production of antibodies from a sample of nearly 6,000 people infected with the novel coronavirus.

Researchers developed one of the most accurate COVID-19 antibody tests available and now have shown antibodies persist for months after infection, providing long-term immunity.

As the price tag of cyberattacks on healthcare continues to rise, radiology looks to bolster its defenses. “Not a week goes by that you don’t hear about a hospital system that’s been impacted by a malicious software attack,” said James Whitfill, M.D., chief transformation officer and vice president of Honor Health and clinical associate professor of internal medicine and bioinformatics at the University of Arizona College of Medicine. “Our radiology departments and practices, in general, need to have a heightened sense of awareness.”

A study by researchers from the University of Arizona Health Sciences published in the journal Pain showed that the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which is the virus causing COV-19, has the ability to relieve pain. This finding may explain why almost half of the people who get infected with COVID-19 experience only a few symptoms or no symptoms at all. However, the lack of symptoms does not make them less contagious because they can still spread the virus.

To pay tribute to the contributions of its honorees, the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health at the University of Arizona will be holding “The 20 Days for 20 Years” celebration.

Continuing coverage: Q&A with Environmental microbiologists and public health researchers at the University of Arizona: Kelly Reynolds, professor and chair of the Community, Environment and Policy Department at the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health and Charles Gerba, an environmental microbiologist from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

Through a National Institutes of Health program called “All of Us,” tribal nations across Indian Country are pushing federal scientists to conduct disease research that serves Indigenous peoples in a meaningful way. “We’re concerned about access to data as well as release of data without tribal permission,” said Stephanie Russo Carroll, a professor in the University of Arizona's Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health. “What the pandemic has shed a light on is the need for tribes to have access to external data.”

The number of new COVID-19 cases in Pima County has fallen in recent weeks from a high in mid-September. “Things aren’t too bad,” said Dr. Joe Gerald, an associate professor with the University of Arizona’s Zuckerman College of Public Health. “Our hospitals aren’t overwhelmed. Case counts are kind of low. It’s this very weird place where complacency is our biggest enemy right now. While we’re doing well in the moment, we’re not that far away from being back in some of those situations that we faced back in June.”

More nightclubs in Scottsdale reopened this weekend after being shut down for reportedly violating COVID-19 guidelines. Dr. Shad Marvasti, director of public health, prevention and health promotion with the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix, said regulation will be crucial. Even with guidelines in place, he said it is important to know the risks. "Any event that you do, with or without the mask, if you do something indoors versus outdoors, there is six times the increased likelihood of spreading it or getting it," Marvasti said.