Mahanoy City, PA
Since the discovery of Coronavirus in 2019, the disease has remained persistent in our lives. Caused by the highly contagious SARS-CoV-2 virus, COVID-19 often manifests with symptoms like coughing, fever, chills, fatigue, and muscle aches. Symptoms can also vary, especially due to the emergence of variants. This disease generally presents as mild to moderate, but for the elderly and infants, it can become severe to the point of death. According to Worldometer’s last report on April 13, 2024, more than seven million deaths occurred. Although there was a large rise in cases during the winter, there was also a predictable uptick at the start of summer.
Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals small spikes in hospitalizations and deaths. Dr. Jessica Justman, a professor of epidemiology and medicine at Columbia University, noted, “When you begin to see a pattern, you might say it’s becoming endemic.” The term “endemic” means a disease that’s constantly present but somewhat controlled, which makes it different from a pandemic, where it’s an outbreak. An example of another endemic disease is the seasonal flu. However, SARS-CoV-2 is naturally evolving to survive, making it harder to prevent with each new mutation.
A new mutation is like the virus learning a new skill. When viruses like SARS-CoV-2 mutate, they often do so to avoid recognition by antibodies. These mutations may decrease the virus’s ability to bind to cells, resulting in subsequent mutations to improve this ability. This creates a cycle of new variants and mutations. According to the CDC, the most recent JN.1 variant has been the cause of over 50% of infections in the U.S. KP.2 and several other descendants of the JN.1 variant are referred to as “FLiRT variants”. This name stems from the technical names of their mutations, as well as the spikes in proteins in each variant. These FLiRT variants build off of each other to accomplish the viruses’ goal.
In response, governing bodies such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) are advocating for the development of updated COVID-19 vaccines, likely to be released in the fall. These vaccines are formulated to target the latest circulating variants, including the JN.1 variants. However, it is anticipated that new variants will continue to emerge even after the updated vaccine is created, similar to last year’s summer. Updated vaccines will continue to be rolled out in the future as a response to newer variants. This is similar to how the flu vaccine is typically changed yearly to combat different strains.
To prevent more variants from spreading, people must take action. Staying informed using reliable resources like the CDC, WHO, and local health departments is crucial to adapting to different situations. Public health guidelines may change due to the emergence of new variants, making it important to stay updated. This can also notify you of improved vaccines and new booster shots, which help maintain immunity to these diseases. Practicing regular hygiene, such as hand-washing and daily sanitization of surfaces, is also recommended. Additional precautions like wearing a mask and social distancing, especially when ill, can significantly reduce the spread. Although cases keep rising, it’s important to look ahead. Vaccines are improving, while collective efforts of individuals continue to maintain optimism for new strategies and innovation.
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