Covid-19 may recur in new variant as mutation is in progress
In May 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. But this does not mean that the danger has passed because the virus is constantly mutating, Azernews reports.
A new strain of EG.5 has recently been identified and the number of infections worldwide is steadily increasing.
• The coronavirus pandemic, which has been going on for more
than three years, has become a serious test for the global health
system. The World Health Organization estimates that at least 20
million people have died from Covid-19, although official figures
put the death toll at 7 million.
• This virus was first reported in December 2019 in Wuhan, China.
At the end of January 2020, WHO recognized the epidemic as an
emergency, and in March declared it a pandemic.
• The first infection in Azerbaijan was detected in February 2020.
As a result of the flexible measures taken by the state, the
situation was immediately brought under control, and fundamental
steps were taken to prevent the disease, ensure the safety of
people, and treat it. Thanks to successful vaccination and other
measures, our society managed to get out of the situation with
minimal losses.
• A total of 14 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine were
administered to citizens. During this period, more than 830,000
people have been infected with coronavirus in Azerbaijan, more than
10,000 people have died, and more than 800,000 people have
recovered after undergoing treatment.
• Coronavirus is constantly mutating, and the emergence of new
strains worries the world's population. In February of this year,
the EG.5 type Eris machine with high distribution efficiency was
registered. This is a new version of the Omicron strain. Symptoms
are classic: cough, runny nose, sore throat, fever, severe
fatigue.
• EG.5, which has already been distributed to 51 countries, differs
from its predecessors in that it has a slightly higher infectivity
index.
• The number of hospitalized patients increased slightly compared
to previous months. In the autumn season, an increase in the
incidence of respiratory viral infections is expected and,
accordingly, the number of patients with COVID-19 will slightly
increase.
• The World Health Organization has reported a 63% increase in
global COVID-19 cases over the past month. This is stated in the
weekly WHO epidemiological report.
• From July 17 to August 13, there were 1.4 million infections.
• Due to the situation, the US Presidential Administration has
already urged Americans to get vaccinated against COVID-19. The
states of California, New York, and Georgia are beginning to
introduce a mandatory mask regime.
• Increases in EG.5 variant infections are primarily seen in the
US, Europe, and the Western Pacific region. WHO representatives
predict that this trend will continue and will peak in the fall
when it becomes the dominant strain.
• “Larger studies are needed to study the effects of strain EG.5.
WHO advises countries to be careful in this matter.
• The situation related to the coronavirus is always the focus of
attention of the Ministry of Health of Azerbaijan and other
relevant state institutions.
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