The new variant of Covid-19 may be the most transmissible yet – the new one in Setubal

The World Health Organization warns: the new variant of Covid-19 may be the most transmissible to date

It has already been detected in 29 countries, including the USA. In India, they are already thinking of bringing back masks.

Masks can make a comeback.

Arcturus. This is the name of the new variant of Ómicron that is worrying health authorities. Because of its high rate of transmission and ability to counteract antibodies, it has put experts in the field on alert.

According to the World Health Organization, it is a similar alternative to XBB.1.5, but with a higher infection potential. It has already been detected in 29 countries, including the United States, already accounting for about 7.2 percent of Covid-19 cases in the country. However, despite its ease of spread, there is still no indication that it causes more serious cases.

“It has been circulating for a few months,” said Maria Van Kerkhove, a WHO technician in charge of monitoring Covid-19. We saw no change in infection severity in individuals or populations. It has an additional mutation in the spike protein which, in laboratory studies, has been shown to increase infection as well as increase the ability to cause disease.”

In India, the number of cases has increased dramatically in recent weeks. Last Friday, April 14, the Ministry of Health in that country recorded more than 50,000 infected people. In light of these numbers, in some Indian states, a return to the obligation to wear masks in public places is being considered.

Paul Hunter, a professor of medicine at the University of East Anglia (UK), who studies mutations in the Covid-19 virus, downplayed the seriousness of the disease.

“It seems to be spreading faster than any other variant right now, but that’s how it always happens: a new variant appears, circulates rapidly for a while, and then disappears after a few weeks, until replaced by the next variant.” Summarized, and quoted here by “Publico”.

The epidemiologist also explained that previous studies do show that many people benefit from hybrid immunity as a result of a combination of previous infection and vaccination. Therefore, it is expected that even if they contracted “Arcturus” or any other variant, hospitalization is unlikely to be required.