Day: July 1, 2024

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it is tracking a new lineage of the virus that causes COVID-19 after it was detected in the United States. Named BA.2.86, the strain was first detected in Denmark on July 24 of this year, then Israel, followed by Michigan in August for a total of four cases, according to the open global genome sequencing database GISAID. “Today we are more prepared than ever to detect and respond to changes in the COVID-19 virus,” a CDC spokesperson told ABC News. “Scientists are working now to understand more about the newly identified lineage in these for cases and we will share more information as it becomes available.” According to lab data, BA.2.86 has more than 30 mutations in total, much more than other variants currently circulating. “Based on the available evidence, we do not yet know what risks, if any, this may pose to the public’s health beyond what has been seen with other currently circulating lineages,” the spokesperson said. A man receives a nasal swab COVID-19 test at Tom Bradley International Terminal at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Dec. 22, 2020, in Los Angeles. Mario Tama/Getty Images On Thursday, the World Health Organization listed BA.2.86 as a “variant under monitoring” also due to its large number of mutations. Experts told ABC News that even though the number of cases spotted in laboratories is low, the fact that the variant has been detected on three continents suggests a high level of transmissibility and that there could be more cases out there. “The reason that scientists are concerned, I think it’s the numbers of mutations plus the fact that the four sequences were found on three continents,” said Dr. John Brownstein, an epidemiologist and chief innovation officer at Boston Children’s Hospital. “So that does tell you that it has some level of fitness, to be able to spread and potentially escape the immune system to create infection, but we don’t know the extent.” Brownstein, an ABC news contributor, said the number of mutations, particularly on the spike protein, which the virus uses to enter and infect cells indicates “features of a variant that could take off.” However, he explained that because there’s been no real-world data observation done yet, there’s no cause for alarm, just for continued public surveillance. Recently, CDC data has shown COVID hospitalizations are increasing. For the week ending Aug. 5, hospitalizations rose 14.3% from 9,026 to 10,320 weekly hospitalizations. Although a double-digit percentage increase seems scary, experts said it’s important to remember hospitalizations are much lower than during other surges such as the omicron surge of winter 2021-22. Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious diseases specialist at the University of California, San Francisco, said there is a combination of immunity from vaccines, boosters, previous infection and multiple infections that would stem any potential surge from BA.2.86 or at least lessen the severity. “Many people won’t get ill because the population has been so exposed with lots of different kinds of COVID and variants and vaccines and previous infections,” he told ABC News. “So, the body’s immune system has already seen a lot of the repertoire of COVID in all different angles. So, it’s unlikely even if it takes off that it will result in a huge wave of illness.” A 3D model shows the structure of the Covid-19 virus. STOCK IMAGE/Longhua Liao/Getty Images He added, “For example, if BA.2.86 came in March of 2020, it probably would be a different story, given the lack of population immunity, the repertoire of the immune response in people, then compared to now.” Until more information is learned about BA.2.864, the CDC said its “advice on protecting yourself from COVID-19 remains the same.” ABC News’ Sony Salzman contributed to this report.

The Connecticut Department of Public Health today announced that a resident has tested positive for West Nile virus infection. This is the first human case of WNV-associated illness identified in Connecticut this season. The female is a resident of New Haven County and is between 50-59 years of age. She became ill during the third week of July with West Nile fever and has since recovered. Laboratory tests confirmed the presence of antibodies to WNV. “As we approach the end of summer and continue to enjoy time outdoors with family, friends, and neighbors, it is important to prevent mosquito bites to reduce your risk of exposure to West Nile virus infection,” said DPH Commissioner Manisha Juthani. “Using insect repellent, covering bare skin, and avoiding being outdoors during the hours of dusk and dawn are effective ways to help keep you from being bitten by mosquitoes.” “The mosquitoes that carry West Nile virus are most abundant in urban and suburban areas and are most active between dusk and dawn.  We anticipate continued risk for human infection until mosquito activity subsides in October,” added Philip Armstrong, medical entomologist at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station. West Nile virus has been detected in Connecticut every year since 1999 and is the most prevalent mosquito-borne disease in the US. Most people infected with WNV do not develop symptoms. About one in five people who are infected develop West Nile fever, an illness which includes a fever and other symptoms such as body aches, joint pain, headache, or a rash. About one out of 150 infected people develop a severe illness affecting the central nervous system. About one out of 10 cases of severe illness are fatal. People over the age of 60 are at highest risk of serious illness. Tips for reducing mosquitoes around homes Mosquitoes require water for reproduction. The following are measures that can help reduce mosquitoes: Eliminate standing water suitable for mosquitoes. Dispose of water-holding containers, such as ceramic pots, used tires, and tire swings. Drill holes in the bottom of containers such as those used for recycling Clean clogged roof gutters. Turn over objects that may trap water when not in use, such as wading pools and wheelbarrows. Change water in bird baths on a weekly basis. Clean and chlorinate swimming pools. When pools are not in use, use pool covers and drain when necessary. Tips for avoiding mosquito bites when outdoors Mosquitoes require a blood meal for reproduction. The following are measures that can help reduce bites from mosquitoes that feed on people: Minimize outdoor activities at dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active. Wear shoes, socks, long pants, and long-sleeved shirts. Clothing material should be tightly woven and loose fitting. Use mosquito netting when sleeping outdoors. Consider the use of CDC-recommended mosquito repellents, containing DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, IR3535, or 2-undecanone, and apply according to directions, when it is necessary to be outdoors. When using DEET, use the lowest concentration effective for the time spent outdoors (for example, 6 percent lasts approximately two hours and 20% for four hours) and wash treated skin when returning indoors. Do not apply under clothing, to wounds or irritated skin, the hands of children, or to infants less than two months old. Be sure door and window screens are tight fitting and in good repair to avoid mosquito bites when indoors. For information on West Nile virus and how to prevent mosquito bites, visit the Connecticut Mosquito Management Program Web site at www.ct.gov/mosquito.

FARGO — The smoldering coronavirus spread is creeping up in North Dakota but is unlikely to burst into another major conflagration of cases because many people have some level of immunity from vaccination or natural infection, experts say. Throughout the United States, COVID-19 infections have been increasing, with hospitalizations up 14.3% over the past week, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But the trend so far is more subdued in North Dakota, which had three weekly reported COVID-19 hospital cases as of Friday, Aug. 18, and 197 weekly positive cases . The week earlier, one hospitalization and 115 positive cases were reported. Public health officials caution, however, that the spread of cases is largely invisible because few test results are reported, and cases in North Dakota have been gradually rising. “Testing is down, so reporting is down,” said Kirby Kruger, director of disease prevention at the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services. ADVERTISEMENT “It really is trending upward,” he added. “We’ve been trending upward since the end of June. That indicates that viral activity is increasing.” Reported weekly COVID-19 infections, which do not include at-home test results, dropped to 44 on June 29, the lowest level since late March of 2020, when the pandemic started in North Dakota. Hospitalizations, a key indicator that is reliably reported, so far remain subdued. “Those hospitalizations are remaining low, and that’s encouraging,” Kruger said. North Dakota is unlikely to see another spike like the peak in late January of 2022 during the wave of cases from the Omicron variant, when reported cases reached an all-time high of 15,938 active infections, Kruger said. “We have a lot of protection in our population now that we didn’t have when this first emerged,” since many people have been vaccinated, infected or both, he said. Still, the virus continues to mutate into variants that spread more rapidly, and some people suffer severe illness, so people should not let down their guard, Kruger said. “This virus is still here and it’s still circulating now with severe illness for some,” he said. “So we don’t want to ignore this.” ADVERTISEMENT Infectious disease specialists at Essentia Health and Sanford Health in Fargo agreed the population has significant protection from prior vaccination or natural infection but caution that cases are likely to increase as people spend more time indoors in the fall and winter. “The peaks and troughs are significantly lower,” said Dr. Drubert Guerrero, an infectious disease specialist at Sanford. “At this time, there’s no reason to be alarmed.” In fall and winter, there likely will be a slight increase in COVID-19 infections, he said. Hospitalizations for COVID-19 have remained low at both Sanford and Essentia. Sanford no longer tracks COVID-19 hospital trends, and Dr. Bertha Ayi, an infectious disease specialist at Essentia, said COVID-19 hospitalizations are “remarkably down,” adding, “I haven’t seen a COVID case in months.” Generally, transmission levels are low in North Dakota, Ayi said. Looking ahead to fall and winter, “I’m optimistic that it won’t be a big issue,” she said. “But people should be sure to get vaccinated” and maintain good indoor ventilation whenever possible and take other precautions, such as wearing masks if risk levels are high. New vaccines formulated for the most prevalent strains now circulating are expected to be available in late September or early October, and people should get booster doses, Ayi, Guerrero and Kruger said. “It’s a good time to get updated this fall,” Guerrero said. “COVID is still here. It’s still causing a lot of illness, and there is some mortality associated with it.” ADVERTISEMENT Fortunately, vaccines and medicines, including antiviral medications, help reduce severe illness, he said, but people have to remain mindful that the coronavirus is circulating. “We now have to live in a post-pandemic environment,” and people must stay vigilant, Guerrero said. North Dakota health officials stopped monitoring coronavirus levels in municipal wastewater in December 2022, Kruger said. North Dakota’s health laboratory has the ability to do the analysis, and health officials are determining whether communities are interested in collecting samples. So far, no cities seem eager to participate. “There isn’t a lot of interest in COVID in general right now,” Kruger said.