The U.S. is experiencing a summer season surge of COVID instances with emergency room visits and deaths from the virus all growing.
The latest figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention present emergency room visits elevated greater than 23% from June 16 to June 22 and dying attributable to COVID was up 14.3% in latest weeks. The % of all U.S. deaths from COVID stays low, nevertheless, at 0.8%, and all indicators stay far beneath previous surges.
Specialists attribute the upswing to a progress in FLiRT variants, which embrace KP.3, KP.2 and KP.1.1 or any others beginning with KP or JN. FLiRT variants, all a part of the omicron line, are the dominant variants throughout the U.S. with two – KP.3 and KP.2 – accounting for greater than 50% of all present instances.
Such mutations are to be anticipated, the CDC identified.
“Viruses continually change by way of mutation and generally these mutations lead to a brand new variant of the virus. Some adjustments and mutations permit the virus to unfold extra simply or make it immune to remedies or vaccines. Because the virus spreads, it might change and develop into tougher to cease,” the company stated on its web site.
What’s the No. 1 symptom?
Whereas FLiRT variants don’t seem to trigger extra severe sickness, there does look like one symptom that’s the commonest. Sore throats are reported by extra individuals who check optimistic for FLiRT variants.
“Sadly one of the crucial widespread COVID signs at present appears to be a sore throat with or with out a delicate fever,” infectious illness specialist Dr. Andreas M. Kogelnik, MD, PhD., told Parade. “I say sadly as a result of—in fact—a sore throat could be attributed to many various causes.”
Different COVID signs are just like these reported with earlier variants:
- Physique aches
- Chills
- Congestion
- Cough
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Headache
- Congestion or runny nostril
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
- New lack of style or odor
Present CDC steerage recommends individuals isolate till their signs are bettering and fever is gone with out the usage of medicine for at the least 24 hours. After that, it’s advisable individuals take additional precautions for the following 5 days.
