NEWS. . . BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT
New Covid variants are spreading across the UK and doctors have warned of a summer wave as millions attend festivals and gather in pubs.
In April, a number of new viral strains known as FLiRT variants emerged (inspired by the technical names of their mutations), and are thought to be largely to blame for the rise in infections in the United Kingdom.
Hospital admissions increased by 24% in the third week of June alone, with many attributing the increase to the new KP. 3 variant, which belongs to the FLiRT family, along with KP. 2 and KP. 1. 1.
The KP. 3 variant is a subvariant of the highly contagious Omicron strain and, along with the variants, accounts for more than 69% of cases in the United States.
KP. 3 accounted for 33. 1% of infections in the U. S. It was released in the U. S. in June, and is now affecting the United Kingdom.
It turns out that everyone knows who has had Covid symptoms in recent weeks: sore throat, headache, persistent cough and fatigue.
And fitness experts warn that these new variants are becoming more and more widespread.
Dr Mariyam Malik, an NHS GP, told The Independent: “The FLiRT variant has rapid changes to its spike protein that may cause it to spread more easily and evade immunity against further infections or vaccines.
“Similarly, the LB. 1 variant has mutations that help spread and likely weaken the coverage we get from past immunity, making those variants different from previous versions of the virus. »
Dr. Malik added that viruses are more likely to spread now that we no longer have legal restrictions like social distancing and mandatory masks.
This is a warning echoed by others in the field.
Virologist Professor Lawrence Young from the University of Warwick told i: “This is a wake-up call. The virus has not gone away and it is not a seasonal infection.
“A combination of new, more contagious viral variants and waning immunity likely contribute to these higher levels of infection.
“We expect this to lead to a giant wave of infection, but we want to follow closely. “
The United Kingdom Health Security Agency also said in May: “The UKHSA continues to monitor knowledge about new variants, both in the United Kingdom and internationally, assessing their severity and the continued efficacy of vaccines. There are no adjustments to the broader public fitness recommendation at this time. .
“In those early stages, our scientists at the Vaccine Development and Evaluation Center (VDEC) are busy building a stockpile of the JN. 1 variant in our high-containment facility, so we can begin testing. “
In March, a new study concluded that the maximum peak of Covid-19 likely came from a laboratory.
The origin of the pandemic has long been the subject of controversy. For some, the virus was a “zoonotic event” and spread from animals to humans, in all likelihood in the rainy market in Wuhan, China, where the disease was first reported.
According to the UK government, it is no longer imaginable to order immediate lateral flow or polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests online from the NHS.
Both types of Covid tests can still be purchased at retail outlets and pharmacies, as well as online.
People with underlying health conditions, or those who work in health centers or hospices, could still have free lateral tests at a pharmacy.
There are no Covid restrictions in place in the United Kingdom in 2024, however, the government still recommends others to stay at home after testing positive.
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