HOUSTON – COVID-19 is continuing to make its presence known across the world as it adapts and evolves into a new strand.
American Medical Association Vice President of Science, Medicine and Public Health, Andrea Garcia, JD, MPH, said HV.1 has become the variant responsible for most COVID cases here in the United States in just a few short weeks. According to an article from the TODAY Show, the omicron subvariant accounts for nearly one-third of cases nationwide and is “highly infectious.”
SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is constantly changing and accumulating mutations in its genetic code over time. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides estimates of variant proportions for two-week periods. These proportions are calculated in two ways: weighted estimates and Nowcast estimates. The CDC said that in October, HV.1 quickly overtook other variants to become the most prevalent strain.
Garcia said the HV.1 variant is one that we “need to keep an eye on” due to the fact that it is highly transmissible.
Since omicron took over in December 2021, all dominant variants have descended from it. Scientists expect the virus to continue to evolve in this way, NBC News reported.
COVID-19 Symptoms
Symptoms of COVID-19 include:
- Coughing
- Shortness of breath
- Difficulty breathing
- Congestion
- Sore throat
- Fever and chills
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea
- Loss of taste or smell
Precautions
The CDC encourages people to take the following precautions and measures:
- Everyone six months and older is recommended to get an updated COVID-19 vaccine.
- Stay home if you are sick.
- Get tested for COVID-19, if needed.
- Seek treatment if you have COVID-19 and are at high risk of getting very sick.
- If you choose to wear a mask, wear a high-quality one that fits well over your nose and mouth.
- Improve ventilation.
- Wash your hands.
-
Using sites like LinkedIn can trigger imposter syndrome, study suggests
-
Why Gen Z fear they will raise a generation of ‘terribly behaved’ iPad kids, stoking TikTok debate about screen time
-
West Africa responds to huge diphtheria outbreaks
-
Study reveals which people are most likely to die from sepsis
-
How to stay safe over Thanksgiving as respiratory virus activity ticks up in parts of the US
-
Several more children sickened by fruit pouches tainted with lead, FDA says
-
Nevada judge rejects attempt to get abortion protections on 2024 ballot
-
What causes skin to itch? New research pinpoints a previously unknown factor
-
Traditional media more trustworthy for science news, poll suggests
-
Long-term use of ADHD drugs could bring higher risk of heart diseases – study
-
Nutrient found in beef and dairy products found to help fight cancer
-
Horror as fly found inside Missouri man’s intestines
-
‘Utterly unacceptable’ Lucy Letby was able to kill children like nurse Beverley Allitt, says inquiry chair
-
Abortion rates in US increased by 5% in 2021, the final year it remained a constitutional right under Roe: CDC