Post by Nadica (She/Her) on Aug 17, 2024 0:09:39 GMT
New Covid variant 'KP 3.1.1' spreading rapidly in UK as Brits warned to 'buckle up' - Published Aug 16, 2024
Brits are being warned to "buckle up" as a new Covid variant, known as KP 3.1. 1, spreads rapidly across the UK and is suspected of causing around half of all cases in the US, with health officials there preparing for a potential "summer wave" of infections.
Molecular medical expert Professor Eric Topol has raised concerns about the strain's impact on immune defences. The Scripps Research scientist cautioned: "The KP.3.1.1 variant is on the move to become dominant, more of a challenge to our immune response than KP.3 and prior variants (especially without new KP.2 booster when we need it for high-risk individuals)."
Professor Topol also advised: "Buckle up; this wave isn't over yet [due to] KP.3.1.1's emergence." In the US, daily Covid cases have surged to 900,000, marking a 59% increase over their 12-month average. Data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that Covid-related A&E visits rose by 12.1% between July 27 and August 5.
Meanwhile, in the UK, the Office for National Statistics reported 199 Covid-related deaths in the week ending July 26, a slight increase from 197 on July 12, reports the Daily Record.
Doctor Nili Kaplan-Myrth MD recently tweeted her concern about the lack of public awareness, stating: "So many patients of all ages sick right now and none of them aware that Covid19 is surging globally."
"#YallMasking and #SaltingtheVibes are cute, but we need leaders to get the message out to the public. And to be honest that we're imperfect."
Brits are being warned to "buckle up" as a new Covid variant, known as KP 3.1. 1, spreads rapidly across the UK and is suspected of causing around half of all cases in the US, with health officials there preparing for a potential "summer wave" of infections.
Molecular medical expert Professor Eric Topol has raised concerns about the strain's impact on immune defences. The Scripps Research scientist cautioned: "The KP.3.1.1 variant is on the move to become dominant, more of a challenge to our immune response than KP.3 and prior variants (especially without new KP.2 booster when we need it for high-risk individuals)."
Professor Topol also advised: "Buckle up; this wave isn't over yet [due to] KP.3.1.1's emergence." In the US, daily Covid cases have surged to 900,000, marking a 59% increase over their 12-month average. Data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that Covid-related A&E visits rose by 12.1% between July 27 and August 5.
Meanwhile, in the UK, the Office for National Statistics reported 199 Covid-related deaths in the week ending July 26, a slight increase from 197 on July 12, reports the Daily Record.
Doctor Nili Kaplan-Myrth MD recently tweeted her concern about the lack of public awareness, stating: "So many patients of all ages sick right now and none of them aware that Covid19 is surging globally."
"#YallMasking and #SaltingtheVibes are cute, but we need leaders to get the message out to the public. And to be honest that we're imperfect."