Emerging variant of COVID-19 may be linked to conjunctivitis
COVID scientists say a new variant of the Arcturus coronavirus may be linked to conjunctivitis. XBB.1.16 variant is contagious, but should not raise concerns about a return to the early stages of the pandemic, according to a new study by Californian researchers.
A new Covid variant that some public health officials suggest may be linked to conjunctivitis has raised alarms about the virus despite a steady decline in cases and deaths from the coronavirus.
However, according to The Guardian, infectious disease experts say it is part of the normal trajectory of such a virus.
In late April, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health issued an alert stating that people infected with the XBB.1.16 strain, nicknamed «Arcturus» on social media, «may be more likely to experience conjunctivitis as a symptom of their COVID infection.»< /p>
This strain is likely more contagious than other recent variants and people should “take the same reasonable precautions against COVID to avoid infection,” the report says.
But according to infectious disease experts, this option should not raise concerns about a return to the earlier stages of the pandemic.
“It’s like with the ”boy who shouted “wolves, wolves”, –said Dr. Celine Gaunder, an epidemiologist and editor-in-chief of the public health department of KFF Health News. “The problem is that if you yell 'wolves' every time a new option comes up — when there really isn't much to worry about — you'll lose the trust of the general public.»
According to US Centers Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number of COVID cases, hospitalizations and deaths has steadily declined since January. Life also continues to gradually return to normal, and most people no longer wear masks in public.
The Arcturus strain is not considered a «variant of concern» because «although it is highly contagious, it does not appear to be any more serious» than other variants, said William Schaffner, an infectious disease expert at the Medical School. Vanderbilt University.
COVID vaccines also appear to protect against this variant, according to Schaffner.
There is also higher immunity to the coronavirus among the general population, according to Justin Lessler, professor of epidemiology at the University of North Carolina, which is “the biggest driver of changes in severity and how the virus affects people.”
< p>According to Lessler, the new strain appears to be simply part of an “evolving virus”.
“All indications are that we are entering a world similar to the flu, where the virus continues, continues, and continues to evolve, and immunity weakens, and that because of this we will have repeated epidemics”, – notes Justin Lessler.
In such a scenario, politicians and the general public should have a conversation about “how many deaths we are willing to tolerate” and how much “to spend to prevent death and move on,” emphasizes Dr. Celine Gounder. “This is a value judgment, not an epidemiological one.”
In the meantime, according to Justin Lessler, there are still useful precautions people can take against the virus, such as vaccines, masking and rapid tests.
“If you are or live with someone who is at particularly high risk, I think caution is warranted, – states Lessler. “And we still have good tools to help fight it.”