US: The virus is not over yet, an infectious disease expert has warned. Coronavirus variants are more efficient than ever at evading our immune defenses. This means that people who have been infected before may also be at risk. Doctors have some bad news for those who contracted COVID-19 during a previous micron surge: You're vulnerable to the virus once again.
The two new types of virus appear to be more efficient at evading immune defenses than previous infections, suggesting that even those who have recovered from Covid-19 infection in recent months may have a clean slate for the virus. Doctors say vaccines are still effective in preventing hospitalizations and deaths.
According to data from medical professionals and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Omicron family variants BA.5 and BA.4 are currently dominant in Illinois and across the country.
Dr. Emily Landon, an epidemiologist at the University of Chicago School of Medicine, said that currently essentially everyone is susceptible to it.
Doctors advise people to wear masks indoors and on booster shots to ensure they are present despite the prevalence of new variants. According to the CDC, only about 34% of people age 5 and older have received a third dose of a COVID-19 booster, making it a resource that is still underutilized.
According to Dr. Egon Ozer, an infectious disease specialist at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, the new forms have "a few more mutations in the spike protein" that make them more resistant to antibodies.
According to Ozar, preliminary data indicated that BA.5 re-infected individuals who had previously contracted the Covid-19 variant in winter or early spring and who, at that time, were able to protect against a new infection. had some immunity to.
Working on a booster shot specifically designed with Omicron in mind is Pfizer and Moderna. Despite the fact that vaccines and new treatments are becoming less deadly after infection with COVID-19, the virus's ability to reactivate increases the potential for further disruptions in a world where many nations struggle with supply chains. continue to do.
According to Dr. Jonathan Martin, an infectious disease specialist at Cook County Health, when people are forced to leave work, there are always financial costs and health issues. "I know some people believe the pandemic is over. I can assure you that the virus is still working on us.
population harbors the infection, the less likely it is that the virus will continue to mutate. According to medical professionals, there is still much to learn about Covid-19's long-term health effects despite mounting evidence that previous infections can increase a person's risk for developing other illnesses.
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