By all indications, the end of COVID is nowhere in sight. Just when we thought that a robust immunity wall has been erected against the coronavirus by prior infections and vaccinations, a new variant emerges breaching the wall. Also, the protection by the vaccine declines in course of time and re-infections become part of the game of hide-and-seek between the wily virus and poor humans. There is a lot of unvaccinated people around the world where the chances of new variants emerging remains high.
Slow the COVID Spread | How long the pandemic stays is up to all of us
Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO scientist, says that our goal must be "not to stop the virus but slow the spread" (The Mint, Jan. 29, 2022). She opined that how long the pandemic stays is up to all of us. Eradicating the virus isn't possible. Of course, COVID-19 will not remain forever. Till the pandemic subsides, we must adhere to masking and other preventive protocols. This way, we can slow the spread of the virus and lighten the load on our healthcare systems.
COVID Scenario in India
The COVID curve seems to have peaked in some regions. A decline in cases have been seen in Maharashtra, UP, Delhi, Odisha, Haryana, and West Bengal. A high number of cases are still observed in Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, and Rajasthan.
However, the upcoming elections in five states may lead to a completely changed scenario in February end or early March. We must all remain vigilant, take care of standard protocols, and beware of letting our guards down.
Omicron versus Flu and Long COVID
Omicron infection is a kind of 'bad flu.' Many symptoms of flu are similar to that of Omicron. How do we differentiate between the two?
Cough and runny nose are common between flu and Omicron. The fever in COVID stays for one-two days. Then, it's gone and is usually followed by intense body pain and headache. In many patients, scratchy throat, fatigue, lower back pain, night sweats, and loss of appetite are some other symptoms of Omicron infection. Worryingly, some of these symptoms may linger in individuals who have recovered. This is called 'Long COVID' and its incidence is much higher in the unvaccinated than the vaccinated.
People infected with Omicron usually recover within five-seven days. If you had Omicron and has now recovered, don't be too complacent. Chances are some of those who recovered may suffer from persistent headache, joint pain, sleep disturbances, brain fog and other neurological issues. Long-lasting lingering symptoms of coronavirus infections are labelled "Long COVID."
Long COVID victims may have fatigue, dry cough, body ache, weakness, loose motions, cramps, and loss of appetite. Some people get so debilitated that they cannot resume work and find it difficult to perform routine activities such as composing emails, editing a WORD file, or just making a cup of tea.
Lot of people complain of brain fog, insomnia, anxiety and forgetfulness (TOI, Jan. 25, 2022).
Omicron in Children: Children may exhibit a rare symptom called croup
Unlike in the first wave, in the third wave a substantial number of kids are also showing symptoms (HT, Jan. 29, 2022). As per a Zoe COVID study, fatigue seems to be the most common symptom in kids, followed by headache, sore throat, running nose and sneezing. In adults, runny nose is the first sign, followed by headache, fatigue, and sneezing.
Besides the respiratory system, Omicron may affect other organs of the body. Therefore, rare symptoms such as diarrhea and rashes may develop in some individuals. Children may exhibit a rare symptom called croup (a kind of cough that sounds like dogs barking).
A new report claims that Omicron may be more dangerous for kids (Pharmaceutical Technology, Jan. 20, 2022). In South Africa, the hospital admission rate for kids under 4 was 49 per cent higher during the Omicron wave than Delta. However, a definitive answer cannot be given till further studies are reported.
In vaccinated kids, symptoms are much milder: mild common cold-like symptoms or other mild symptoms. As vaccination protects kids from severe disease, it's advisable that your children get vaccinated as soon as possible; as vaccines have been cleared for 15-17-year-olds in India. It has been also reported that vaccines for 12+ kids will be rolled out soon.
How BA.2 Variant increasing in India
The Omicron sub-variant, BA.2, first detected in Denmark, is now increasing in India. BA.2 is even more contagious than the original Omicron: BA.1. Dr S K Singh, Director, NCDC, said that BA.1 and BA.2 were found in sequenced samples but not BA.3 (The New Indian Express, Jan. 28, 2022).
A massive rise in Omicron cases has been seen between December 2021 and January 2022. The Delta and AY cases declined from 17,000 in December to 4,700 in January.
In pockets of Indian population, Delta and Omicron can still cause serious disease and deaths among the unvaccinated, the elderly and co-morbid patients.
Who should take new COVID Drugs Paxlovid?
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has just approved Pfizer's anti-COVID pill called Paxlovid (Euro News, Jan. 27, 2022). The drug is recommended for treatment of adults not requiring supplemental oxygen and are at increased risk of the disease becoming severe. Pfizer claims that the oral pill reduced hospital admissions and deaths of people at-risk by up to 90 per cent, if taken in the first few days after symptom emergence.
A new study in Israel has claimed that a third dose of vaccine enhances the protection against Omicron to about 90 per cent.
Can NeoCov kill?
A 'seemingly dangerous' new coronavirus has been detected in bats in South Africa. It created a ruffle in the scientific circles as it is said that this virus just needs one mutation to enable it to jump from bats to humans. This virus may be as transmissible as SARS-CoV-2 and as lethal as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV).
NeoCov has the potential to kill one in every three persons it infects (Deccan Herald, Jan. 29, 2022). That is, it's mortality rate is around 30 per cent. In contrast, mortality rate of COVID is usually around one per cent or less, but subject to variations by ethnicity, demographic profiles, and status of healthcare facilities.
WHO says that further studies are needed to establish if NeoCov poses a threat to humans.
End of COVID
The world waits with bated breath for the end of COVID which has hit the globe for over 2 years now. According to the Lancet editorial (Jan. 19, 2022), COVID-19 will continue for quite some time. The heartening news is that the prestigious journal reports that the end of the pandemic is near!
It says that after the Omicron wave gets over, COVID-19 will return but the pandemic won't; hope, this report turns out to be true.
Possible Measures for Manipur
Manipur must conducting immediate seroprevalence studies to understand what per cent of its population and in its different districts are still susceptible to the coronavirus.
The state must speed up vaccinations in a big way; aggressive vaccinations with monthly targets to cover all eligible populations with first doses in the next few weeks (4-6 weeks); and targeted vaccinations of all adult population with second doses in the next two-three months.
Health services must condct regular and repeated COVID testing in hotspots and enhance the ratio of RT-PCT to Rapid Antigen Testing (RAT).
Authorities concerned must conduct weekly COVID-19 advocacy and "awareness messaging" about the pandemic to the public by a designated healthcare official is necessary.
Genomic sequencing of a subset of positive cases and surveillance of the variants, including the delta and omicron variants: which COVID strains are there in Manipur, where are they, and where are they moving towards; and whether any new variants are emerging.
Contact tracing and government-monitored isolation of positive cases, wherever feasible.
Boosting healthcare provisions such as medical oxygen plants, tankers and cylinders; steroids, antifungal drugs, oxygen concentrators, ventilators, oximeters, masks, PPEs, sanitizers etc.
Strengthening of healthcare infrastructure such as construction of new COVID hospitals.
Provision of more COVID care centres (CCCs), more Covid beds and ICUs in existing hospitals
Constitution of a special taskforce for pediatric COVID is highly recommended. Special provisions for kids such as pediatric hospitals, wards, and ICUs, pediatric oximeters, concentrators, and ventilators and strengthening of staff such as pediatricians and pediatric nurses and paramedical workers etc.
Conducting, at least, part of the election campaign in the online mode, limiting crowds in public spaces, and minimizing crowds in offline cultural, political, and political events; as far as feasible.
The people of Manipur should religiously adhere to the standard SOPS to help prevent/mitigate a possible new wave in the state; and help save the people from possible hospitalizations and deaths.
(The views expressed are personal)
Also Read:
Is Omicron more dangerous for Children?
Now, a sub-variant of Omicron
Omicron and low vaccination in Manipur
COVID-19 Vaccination in Poll-Bound States: To be or not to be
Fake negative reports of Covid-19
