Coronavirus infection cases are once again seeing a surge in many countries of the world. According to recent reports, US President Joe Biden has been found infected with Corona. He was tested for Covid before his speech at a conference in Las Vegas, in which he was found infected. White House Press Secretary Karin Jean Pierre has given information about this.
According to reports, the President has mild symptoms of infection and is in self-isolation as a precaution. After confirmation of infection, his upcoming programs have been canceled.
After this report came out, questions have started arising about whether Corona is increasing again. Has a new variant of the virus emerged? Let's understand about this.
How is the President's health?
Giving information about his health, the President's physician Dr. Kevin O'Connor said, he showed respiratory symptoms on Wednesday (July 17) afternoon. He had a runny nose and cough along with general malaise. Biden currently has mild symptoms of corona. His respiratory rate is normal, temperature is 97.8, and pulse oximeter report is normal at 97%.
The President has been given a dose of Paxovid, an oral antiviral pill prescribed by a doctor for COVID-19.
New variants are emerging in US-UK
It is worth noting that in many countries including the US, and the United Kingdom, coronavirus cases have been reported increasing, albeit at a slow pace, for the last few months. Some US media reports have been saying that the onset of summer has given rise to fears of a re-emergence of COVID-19.
The coronavirus that causes the COVID-19 disease is constantly mutating. Health experts have raised concerns about a group of variants called FLiRT in US reports. Apart from this, cases of the LB.1 variant were also reported in some places in which an additional mutation was seen compared to FLiRT.
Booster dose advised for those over 65 years of age
Given the increasing threat due to new variants of corona, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended that people aged 65 years or older should get another vaccine as a precaution. The nature of the new variants emerging is seen to dodge the old vaccine formula.
Earlier in February, the CDC issued updated guidelines for Kovid-19 and urged people over 65 years of age to take a booster dose four months after their last vaccine.
What do CDC experts say?
In a report published in The New York Times, the CDC said, that most Americans have acquired immunity against the coronavirus from repeated infection or vaccination, or both. However, studies have shown that vaccines are effective only for a few months and their effectiveness decreases over time. To reduce this risk, all people need to take updated Kovid shots. CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen recommended another dose of vaccination, accepting the unanimous advice of scientists.
Experts say, the updated vaccine by Novavax is better at targeting JN.1, which has been the most affecting variant for the last several months. The updated vaccine by Pfizer and Moderna is better at targeting the KP.2 strain of the virus.
(PC: ISTOCK)
