* . *
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact
Friday, June 27, 2025
Earth-News
  • Home
  • Business
  • Entertainment
    Susquehanna Raises Penn Entertainment Inc. (PENN) Price Target. – Yahoo Finance

    Susquehanna Raises Price Target for Penn Entertainment Inc. (PENN)

    George Lopez is coming to Spokane – KXLY.com

    George Lopez is coming to Spokane – KXLY.com

    Netflix unveils Dallas immersive venue for fans of hit shows like ‘Squid Game,’ ‘Stranger Things’ – Houston Chronicle

    Step Inside Netflix’s New Dallas Immersive Experience Featuring Hits Like ‘Squid Game’ and ‘Stranger Things

    ‘Puttin’ on the Ritz’: Civic Players bring ‘Young Frankenstein’ to life – Yahoo

    Civic Players Deliver a Hilarious and Unforgettable Performance of ‘Young Frankenstein

    ‘Wheel of Fortune’: Amputee Wins $60,000 After Breaking Incredible ‘Curse’ – Hastings Tribune

    Wheel of Fortune’ Amputee Breaks Incredible ‘Curse’ to Win $60,000!

    North Star Sports & Entertainment Network: Coming soon – KTTC News

    North Star Sports & Entertainment Network: Coming soon – KTTC News

  • General
  • Health
  • News

    Cracking the Code: Why China’s Economic Challenges Aren’t Shaking Markets, Unlike America’s” – Bloomberg

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Trending Tags

    • Trump Inauguration
    • United Stated
    • White House
    • Market Stories
    • Election Results
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Technology
    St. Francis Medical Center brings advanced robotic surgery technology to Northeast Louisiana – KNOE

    St. Francis Medical Center brings advanced robotic surgery technology to Northeast Louisiana – KNOE

    Wayve Expands Engineering Leadership to Power Next-Gen Autonomous Driving Technology – Silicon Canals

    Wayve Boosts Engineering Leadership to Accelerate Next-Gen Autonomous Driving Innovation

    Frontdoor Announces Tech Expert Dr. Bala Ganesh as Chief Technology Officer – Business Wire

    Frontdoor Appoints Tech Visionary Dr. Bala Ganesh as New Chief Technology Officer

    Defense technology giant Northrop Grumman to host interviews in Iuka to fill technician roles – supertalk.fm

    Defense technology giant Northrop Grumman to host interviews in Iuka to fill technician roles – supertalk.fm

    China’s Military Introduces Mosquito-Sized Drones: A Game-Changing Surveillance Technology – Indian Defence Review

    China Unveils Mosquito-Sized Drones: Revolutionizing Surveillance Technology

    Marvell Technology Stock Rallies After AI Event Sparks Investor Optimism – Yahoo Finance

    Marvell Technology Stock Rallies After AI Event Sparks Investor Optimism – Yahoo Finance

    Trending Tags

    • Nintendo Switch
    • CES 2017
    • Playstation 4 Pro
    • Mark Zuckerberg
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Business
  • Entertainment
    Susquehanna Raises Penn Entertainment Inc. (PENN) Price Target. – Yahoo Finance

    Susquehanna Raises Price Target for Penn Entertainment Inc. (PENN)

    George Lopez is coming to Spokane – KXLY.com

    George Lopez is coming to Spokane – KXLY.com

    Netflix unveils Dallas immersive venue for fans of hit shows like ‘Squid Game,’ ‘Stranger Things’ – Houston Chronicle

    Step Inside Netflix’s New Dallas Immersive Experience Featuring Hits Like ‘Squid Game’ and ‘Stranger Things

    ‘Puttin’ on the Ritz’: Civic Players bring ‘Young Frankenstein’ to life – Yahoo

    Civic Players Deliver a Hilarious and Unforgettable Performance of ‘Young Frankenstein

    ‘Wheel of Fortune’: Amputee Wins $60,000 After Breaking Incredible ‘Curse’ – Hastings Tribune

    Wheel of Fortune’ Amputee Breaks Incredible ‘Curse’ to Win $60,000!

    North Star Sports & Entertainment Network: Coming soon – KTTC News

    North Star Sports & Entertainment Network: Coming soon – KTTC News

  • General
  • Health
  • News

    Cracking the Code: Why China’s Economic Challenges Aren’t Shaking Markets, Unlike America’s” – Bloomberg

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Trending Tags

    • Trump Inauguration
    • United Stated
    • White House
    • Market Stories
    • Election Results
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Technology
    St. Francis Medical Center brings advanced robotic surgery technology to Northeast Louisiana – KNOE

    St. Francis Medical Center brings advanced robotic surgery technology to Northeast Louisiana – KNOE

    Wayve Expands Engineering Leadership to Power Next-Gen Autonomous Driving Technology – Silicon Canals

    Wayve Boosts Engineering Leadership to Accelerate Next-Gen Autonomous Driving Innovation

    Frontdoor Announces Tech Expert Dr. Bala Ganesh as Chief Technology Officer – Business Wire

    Frontdoor Appoints Tech Visionary Dr. Bala Ganesh as New Chief Technology Officer

    Defense technology giant Northrop Grumman to host interviews in Iuka to fill technician roles – supertalk.fm

    Defense technology giant Northrop Grumman to host interviews in Iuka to fill technician roles – supertalk.fm

    China’s Military Introduces Mosquito-Sized Drones: A Game-Changing Surveillance Technology – Indian Defence Review

    China Unveils Mosquito-Sized Drones: Revolutionizing Surveillance Technology

    Marvell Technology Stock Rallies After AI Event Sparks Investor Optimism – Yahoo Finance

    Marvell Technology Stock Rallies After AI Event Sparks Investor Optimism – Yahoo Finance

    Trending Tags

    • Nintendo Switch
    • CES 2017
    • Playstation 4 Pro
    • Mark Zuckerberg
No Result
View All Result
Earth-News
No Result
View All Result
Home Health

New ‘FLiRT’ Variants Spark Summer COVID Surge Warning

May 1, 2024
in Health
New ‘FLiRT’ Variants Spark Summer COVID Surge Warning
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

5 min read

April 30, 2024 – In recent weeks, COVID-19 forecasters have reported on a new set of variants picked up in wastewater surveillance. Nicknamed FLiRT, they’re threatening to cause a new wave of COVID infections, which recently bottomed out after spiking in December. 

Models released last week from Jay Weiland, a data scientist who has accurately predicted COVID waves since the beginning of the pandemic, warns that a surge is on the horizon. “He’s someone who many experts like myself follow because he’s been pretty accurate so far,” said Megan L. Ranney, MD, dean of the Yale School of Public Health.

Ripe for Reinfection

What’s more, said Ranney, FLiRT also has some concerning features, like changes in the spike protein, which play a role in helping SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, take hold, colonize the body, and make people sick.

Host vulnerability is another troubling factor, given that only 22% of American adults have gotten the latest COVID vaccine. And since many people may not have had the virus in a while, they’re ripe for reinfection. 

“We’ve got a population of people with waning immunity, which increases our susceptibility to a wave,” said Thomas A. Russo MD, chief of infectious disease at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University of Buffalo.

There’s also some concerning data that shows that even those who have gotten the newest COVID booster may not be well-protected against a potential surge. A preprint study released this week from researchers at Harvard University shows compelling evidence that the newest booster isn’t holding up well against JN.1, the most recent dominant variant, and its FLiRT offshoots. The study has not yet been peer-reviewed. 

JN.1 spread globally over the winter and still makes up 95% of COVID cases in the U.S. Its lineage is the Omicron variant, which has been circulating in some form since 2021. Still, new variants can quickly take hold. JN.1 made up almost none of the cases in mid-November but quickly jumped to 21% in December and 85% by the third week of January.

In recent years, COVID waves have also fallen into a predictable rhythm, with a large winter wave and a smaller mid- to late-summer peak, largely due to people spending so much time in air-conditioned indoor settings with poor ventilation as the weather outdoors heats up, said Russo.

“All these factors considered, if I were to look in my crystal ball, I would say that we’re going to have another wave or increase in cases and hospitalizations sometime this summer,” he said.

Protecting Yourself Against a Summer Surge

Even though there is some question about how the new booster will hold up against the latest variants, staying up to date on vaccinations is still the best way to protect yourself. For those who haven’t gotten the latest booster, time is of the essence. And for those who are over age 65 or immunocompromised, the CDC recommends getting a second updated COVID booster 4 months from their last booster. 

“Assuming that the virus continues to evolve and our immunity wanes, the general population is likely to continue to need an annual booster for protection,” said Ranney. 

And many experts said we need to take the virus more seriously. In general, if you’re sick, don’t go to work, go out, or travel, and give yourself time to recover so that you don’t get everyone around you sick. The CDC recommends that people stay home and isolate until at least 24 hours after any fever is gone and overall symptoms have improved. And if you’re in a crowded area with poor ventilation, a mask is still a simple and effective tool for protection. 

New treatments like the monoclonal antibody Pemgarda, which the FDA granted emergency use authorization in March, may also help protect those who are particularly vulnerable to a spring or summer surge, said Shirin Mazumder, MD, an infectious disease doctor at Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare in Memphis. The drug is to be taken as a preventive measure for anyone who is moderately to severely immunocompromised. The medication is given through an IVbefore a patient’s potential exposure to COVID. It’s designed for those who are unlikely to build up enough immunity and may need more protection from the virus. 

“It’s another tool that can help people in addition to getting vaccinated and taking other precautions,” said Mazumder.

The Increasing Risk of Long COVID

Vaccination is also important for protection against long COVID, according to a March 2024 study published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine. And for Grace McComsey, MD, who leads the long COVID RECOVER study at University Hospitals Health System in Cleveland, it’s not the risk of acute illness that’s most alarming. 

She said long COVID is becoming the bigger issue for those who might not have been as fearful of acute COVID. Research released from The Lancet Infectious Diseases recently showed that many of those who end up with long COVID – a chronic illness marked by fatigue, brain fog, and heart and lung problems – didn’t necessarily have a severe bout with the infection.

Numbers of long COVID cases are also on the rise, with 6.8% of Americans reporting long COVID symptoms, up from 5.3% in 2022. In all, 17.6% said that they’ve had it at some point, according to a survey from the CDC. “Long COVID is what I’d be most concerned about right now, given that its numbers are rising and it can make you chronically ill, even if an acute infection did not,” said McComsey. 

We don’t know for sure what this variant will do, but we do know that COVID has thus far been excellent at spreading disease and evading immunity. Whether or not this is the next variant to take hold is hard to know for sure, but if not this one, another variant certainly will, McComsey said.

“We need to respect this virus and take it seriously, because whether we like it or not, it’s here and it’s still making people really sick,” she said. 

>>> Read full article>>>
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source : WebMD – https://www.webmd.com/covid/news/20240430/new-variant-sparks-summer-covid-surge-warning?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Tags: flirthealthvariants
Previous Post

Breast Cancer Mammography vs. Thermography

Next Post

NIH’s Eliseo Pérez-Stable, MD, Talks Health Disparities, Biology, Behavior, and Culture

St. Francis Medical Center brings advanced robotic surgery technology to Northeast Louisiana – KNOE

St. Francis Medical Center brings advanced robotic surgery technology to Northeast Louisiana – KNOE

June 27, 2025
NBA Draft 2025: Did the Hornets reach for Kon Knueppel? And why the Spurs did the right thing with Dylan Harper – Yahoo Sports

NBA Draft 2025: Did the Hornets Overreach for Kon Knueppel? Why the Spurs’ Pick of Dylan Harper Was a Brilliant Move

June 27, 2025
Fossil evidence of proboscidean frugivory and its lasting impact on South American ecosystems – Nature

Fossil evidence of proboscidean frugivory and its lasting impact on South American ecosystems – Nature

June 27, 2025
Distrust in public-health institutions is not just an American problem – The Economist

Distrust in public-health institutions is not just an American problem – The Economist

June 27, 2025
Cuts to federal science spending will cost every American – University of California

Cuts to federal science spending will cost every American – University of California

June 27, 2025
CCTA Bests CV Risk Scores for Bolstering Lifestyle Changes, Medication Uptake – TCTMD.com

CCTA Bests CV Risk Scores for Bolstering Lifestyle Changes, Medication Uptake – TCTMD.com

June 27, 2025
TIFF announces first wave of World Premieres! – TIFF – Toronto International Film Festival

TIFF announces first wave of World Premieres! – TIFF – Toronto International Film Festival

June 27, 2025
With no end to war in sight, Ukraine’s economy teeters on the edge – The Washington Post

Ukraine’s Economy on the Edge as Conflict Shows No End in Sight

June 27, 2025
A typical workday for freelancer Ashley Abramson – Association of Health Care Journalists

A Day in the Life of Freelancer Ashley Abramson: Inside Her Dynamic Workday

June 27, 2025
‘This is not a luxury’: Families in Trump states agonize over GOP’s proposed Medicaid cuts – CNN

Families in Trump States Face Hardship Amid GOP’s Push for Major Medicaid Cuts

June 27, 2025

Categories

Archives

June 2025
MTWTFSS
 1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
30 
« May    
Earth-News.info

The Earth News is an independent English-language daily published Website from all around the World News

Browse by Category

  • Business (20,132)
  • Ecology (699)
  • Economy (719)
  • Entertainment (21,613)
  • General (15,586)
  • Health (9,758)
  • Lifestyle (724)
  • News (22,149)
  • People (721)
  • Politics (726)
  • Science (15,937)
  • Sports (21,216)
  • Technology (15,704)
  • World (699)

Recent News

St. Francis Medical Center brings advanced robotic surgery technology to Northeast Louisiana – KNOE

St. Francis Medical Center brings advanced robotic surgery technology to Northeast Louisiana – KNOE

June 27, 2025
NBA Draft 2025: Did the Hornets reach for Kon Knueppel? And why the Spurs did the right thing with Dylan Harper – Yahoo Sports

NBA Draft 2025: Did the Hornets Overreach for Kon Knueppel? Why the Spurs’ Pick of Dylan Harper Was a Brilliant Move

June 27, 2025
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact

© 2023 earth-news.info

No Result
View All Result

© 2023 earth-news.info

No Result
View All Result

© 2023 earth-news.info

Go to mobile version