The Omicron strain is conquering country after country. But there is good news too

More and more countries are reporting a record daily incidence since the beginning of the pandemic: Italy – 127 thousand, Spain – 162 thousand, Great Britain – 189 thousand, France – 208 thousand, USA – half a million.

All this, fortunately, is still accompanied by a relatively low mortality rate, which statistically can be associated with vaccination. The good news is that Omicron causes much less damage to the lungs compared to previous strains, which led to the formation of scars and scars, provoked breathing difficulties. New studies in laboratory animals and human tissues have shown less harmful effects on the respiratory tract, according to The New York Times.

Over the past month, more than a dozen research teams have been monitoring the pathogen. According to the results of the experiments, it became clear that those who were infected with the new strain had less damage to the lungs, they did not lose so much in weight and were less likely to die as a result of the disease. Studies published on the basis of observations have shown that Omicron is easier to tolerate than Delta and other, earlier versions of the virus.

But a collapse is quite possible if hospitals are clogged with patients with severe and moderate forms. As the experience of previous waves has shown, this increases the excess mortality, since the redistribution of the capacity of the health care system leaves some citizens without the proper attention of doctors.

At the same time, mutations that reduced the danger of the strain could play a cruel joke, “making room” for other pathogens. In Israel, a case of simultaneous infection with the “corona” and influenza (in English influenza or simply the flu) was recorded for the first time in an unvaccinated woman in labor. Therefore, this phenomenon was called “flurona”.

The situation in Greece, despite the rapid spread of the Omicron strain, still inspires some optimism. Eleni Jamarellou, Infectious Disease Therapist, Member of the Expert Committee, stated today SKAI:

“In the intensive care unit, there was not a single case of patients with Omicron entering the intensive care unit or intubating them.”

She noted that according to her colleagues, who are monitoring the situation with wastewater, there is a stabilization, “and this instills in us moderate optimism.” And she added that “during this period there was not a single case of intubation in the intensive care unit.”

Ms Jamarellou noted that the Greek health system will withstand and overcome this, however, the professor emphasized the need for vaccination to overcome mutations:

“If I have 20% of the unvaccinated, this is where the virus will go and multiply. The same goes for children of primary school age, who need to be vaccinated, as they do not get seriously ill, but this leads to mutations. If we had the absolute number of vaccinations, the virus would not find a place to mutate. “

Formerly President of the Panhellenic Medical Association Athanasios Exadaktylos said that it should be taken for granted – “the more infections there will be, the more hospitalizations there will be.” In this context, he urged those who have not been vaccinated and are over 50 to hurry up and get vaccinated, “because these are the ones who will meet with Omicron and go to the hospital.”

…



Source link