New variants now account for multiple COVID-19 cases in the United States, according to federal data.
EG.5, a derivative of the Omicron variant, descended from the XBB strain, has been circulating in the country since at least April. However, as of August 5, new coronavirus infections accounted for 17.3% of new coronavirus infections. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
That’s up from an estimated 1.1% of cases at the end of May, according to CDC data.
it looks like Hospitalizations due to novel coronavirus increased Nationwide, hospitalizations rose 12.5% in the past week to a total of 9,056, according to the Federal Health Service.
In the United Kingdom, on the other hand, EG.5.1, which belongs to the EG.5 lineage, is the second most common strain, accounting for an estimated 14.55% of cases. UK Health and Safety Agency.
Public health experts said there was no evidence that EG.5 caused more severe symptoms, and that it was normal for the virus to mutate and emerge with new variants.
Dr. William Schaffner, Professor of Preventive Medicine and Infectious Diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, told ABC News, “Omicrons have undergone subtle mutations. We have children and offspring, and they are all closely related to omicrons. ‘ said. “It’s infectious, but it’s not that serious, so that’s great.”
The rise in hospitalizations may be due to a combination of factors, including weakened immune systems and people starting to congregate indoors. But experts said the numbers were still among the lowest since the pandemic began.
“When you take a low number and talk about it in terms of percentage increases, it sounds a lot scarier than it really is, doesn’t it?” Dr Shira Doron, chief infection control officer at Tufts Medicine, told ABC News. Ta. “So, in extreme circumstances, if the world had one COVID-19 case and then two, that would be a 100% increase. This sounds very bad, but Two is a pretty low number.”
“There will be some increase in the number of cases as the newer variants replace the older ones…so what we are seeing is a small increase but still the lowest levels we have seen so far. in,’ she continued.
As of July 19, the World Health Organization List EG.5 as a variant under observationBut experts said this should not be seen as a cause for concern, but rather as a sign of good surveillance.
“By setting up surveillance systems for new coronavirus strains around the world, we can be alert if a distinctly different variant suddenly emerges and begins to spread in any country, not just the United States,” Schaffner said. Stated. “We were notified in advance so we could start preparing for it.”
Unless there is evidence that EG.5 or its substrains are causing more severe disease, experts recommend that the public should assess their own risk tolerance, remain vigilant, and obtain vaccination updates. It said the guidance previously recommended by health officials remained the same.
The CDC plans to release recommendations for new COVID-19 boosters soon in the fall, when the number of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations typically rises.
“The fall booster is based on XBB, but it was and will always be a gamble because stocks are picked in June and which stocks will prevail in the fall. Because I don’t know for sure.” It’s June,” said Delon. “So the booster will be a monovalent booster of XBB, which is fine. The vaccine will work even if it is not perfectly adapted to circulation.”
