The Ribera Health Group He warned in a statement of the “significant impact” of this new wave of Covid, which causes a fever of more than 38°C for the first two or three days, more cases of loss of smell and taste, sore throat and ear pain.
Dr. Antonio Valdivia, head of preventive medicine at the Ribera Health Group in the Dénia Hospital asegura that, in general, los síntomas are similar to los de muchos cuadros gripales, aunque “en las últimas semanas estamos volviendo à ver aproximadamente a 10% de pacientes que pierden el olfato y el gusto, con tendencia a presentar mayor inflamación de garganta y Ear pain”. For the rest, he adds, “the behavior of the virus is similar to the sixth wave”. The head of preventive medicine at the Vinalopó University HospitalDr Jose Antonio Delgado. “The clinical picture is similar to variants that have circulated before, but with the difference that severe cases of the disease have decreased significantly,” he says.
Regarding the causes of this seventh wave of Covid, which is already seen in hospitals and primary care centers, due to the significant increase in cases and a considerable increase in income, Dr. Valdivia assures that “the new variants have a great capacity to evade, both the antibodies generated with vaccination and those generated with non-Omicron and even Omicron-1 strains”. Based on the cases observed, the Ribera Group specialist assures that ” currently, the majority of cases can be expected to be caused by Omicron-2, with the increasing presence of strains later than this with even greater escape capability.”
Dr. Delgado explains that the two predominant lineages in this wave “show mutations that are linked to partial evasion of humoral immunity, so people who have a previous COVID-19 infection as well as those who have been vaccinated” , although, he says, “vaccines continue to offer substantial protection against severe forms of the disease”.
Both specialists recommend that citizens receive the full vaccination schedule. Dr. Delgado assures that “the majority of mild cases are self-diagnosed with tests acquired in pharmacies or via an epidemiological link”. “The most severe symptoms appear in unvaccinated patients: they have a higher fever, the duration of acute symptoms is longer and, in general, they have a higher risk of ending up in the emergency room for a face-to-face assessment. face of symptoms. “, explains Dr. Valdivia. “In the case of the general population who have received all the vaccines, the cases are mostly mild, although an increase in admissions is observed, in particular patients with incomplete vaccination, the elderly or with high-risk pathologies, such as transplant recipients, people receiving chemotherapy or immunosuppressive treatments, cystic fibrosis, trisomy 21 over the age of 40, which make an effective response to vaccination difficult, ”he adds.
Preventive medicine specialists from the Ribera group assure that researchers and health organizations already agree that a fourth dose will be necessary. “It only remains to determine the dates and the order of priority of the administration but, on the basis of the information that comes from other European countries, it is expected that the start of the campaign of vaccination of the population of this fourth dose be carried out in October or November, coinciding with the flu vaccination campaign”, they explain. For Dr. Delgado, “what is clear is that in the next updates of the strategy of vaccination, vaccination recommendations need to be more personalized, to boost the immunity of vulnerable patients because they are the ones who have the severe cases, those who end up hospitalized and those who could die from COVID-19.
Both also remember that it is important to administer the third dose in cases where two have been received and the infection has subsequently been suffered. Specifically, after five months is when it is indicated. For the entire adult population, it is recommended to administer four doses of vaccine: three initial doses and a fourth booster dose, even if they have transmitted the infection, recommending, as in the previous case, d wait 5 months from the start of the infection until the administration of this fourth dose, although after 28 days from the start of the infection this booster dose can already be administered, assures- he.
Regarding the advice to try to avoid the spread of this new strain, which seems to be transmitted so easily, there is no news: Use of a mask in contact with vulnerable people and indoors, maintain hygiene frequent hands and avoid crowds and crowded events. “At the institutional level, citizens must continue to be informed to avoid excessive laxity,” they add.