#40: Sars-Cov-2 Variants of Concern

On Wed March 17^th The Lancet revealed a large-scale study looking at the testing data of four million people in Denmark, which revealed that Sars-CoV-2 virus reinfection is rare.  It did, however, go on to say that adults 65 and older who tested positive for Sars-Cov-2 are more likely to be reinfected than younger people.  Those 65 and older had about 47.1 percent protection against reinfection vs. an 80 percent protection for those younger than 65. 

As of March 18^th, the more contagious B.1.1.7 UK virus has now been found in every state according to the CDC.  One peer-reviewed study published on March 10^th found that people infected with this UK variant are 32 to 104 percent more likely to die than those infected with the original strain.  The UK variant is now circulating in more than 45 countries.  The CDC projected this would be the dominant strain in the U.S. by April and it appears it is.  The South African variant (B.1.351) is now in at least 24 states and the first Brazilian variant (P.1.) is in nine states.  These are all variants of concern.  Currently, the CDC is tracking two other “variants of concern” that are in California and New York City.   Aren’t those foreign countries?  Only kidding. 

Did you know that we now have a term for people who develop long-lasting symptoms from having COVID?  They are called “long haulers”.  Don’t ask me.  According to a March 9^th study in the journal Nature Medicine these individuals are more likely to experience five or more symptoms in their first week of illness.  Early symptoms most predictive of someone being a long-hauler were fatigue, headache, breathing difficulty, a hoarse voice, and muscle pain.  Additionally, those with a higher body mass index and women were found more likely to be long-haulers.  You won’t catch me calling any woman a “long hauler”.  Symptoms long-haulers may suffer from include dizziness, insomnia, confusion, and a racing heart among others.  In another study of 1,733 hospitalized coronavirus patients, published in The Lancet, 3 out of 4 patients still suffered from at least one symptom 6 months after being released from the hospital.

According to the CDC, 95 percent of those who have died from COVID in the U.S. were over 50 years of age and eight out of ten who have died were over 65.  I am not sure these stats are 100 percent accurate as there have been many reports of the cause of death listed as COVID if the person had the virus regardless of any other disease they may have previously had.  Just saying!

More challenges await all of us as we enter the spring and summer.  Vaccines, Variants, re-opening, as well as new rules to live by.  Take one day at a time and stay the course.  We are a resilient country and we will get through this.  Thank you for trusting ILDP to perform your testing.  We appreciate it.

 

Lance Benedict

President/CEO Industry Lab Diagnostic Partners