The Valencian health group Ribera warns of the high incidence of this new wave of covidwhich causes a fever of more than 38 degrees 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 a ver aproximadamente a 10% de pacientes que pierden el olfato y el gusto, con tendencia a presentar mayor inflamación de garganta y ear pain”.
Otherwise, he adds, “the behavior of the virus is similar to the sixth wave”. The head of preventive medicine at Vinalopó University Hospital, Dr. José Antonio Delgado, agrees with him. “The clinical picture is similar to the variants that have circulated before, but with the difference that severe cases of the disease have decreased significantly“, he rocks.
About the causes of this seventh wave of covidwhich is already seen in hospitals and primary care centers, due to the significant increase in cases and a considerable increase in admissions, Dr. Valdivia assures that “the new variants have a large evacuation capacity, both to antibodies generated by vaccination and to those generated with non-Omicron and even Omicron-1 strains”. Based on the cases observed, the specialist from the Ribera group assures that “currently it can be expected that most cases will be caused by Omicron-2, with the increasing presence of strains after it with a capacity to even greater escape”.
Dr. Delgado explains that the two predominant lineages in this wave “show mutations associated with partial evasion of humoral immunitytherefore people who have already been infected with COVID-19 as well as those who have been vaccinated can transmit the disease, “although, he specifies, vaccines continue to offer substantial protection against severe forms of the disease. sickness.
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 more 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 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, older patients or those with pathologies to high risk, such as transplant recipients, people receiving chemotherapy or immunosuppressive treatments, cystic fibrosis, Down syndrome over 40 years old, which make it difficult to respond effectively to vaccination,” he adds.
The preventive medicine specialists of the Ribera group ensure that researchers and health organizations already agree on the fact that a fourth dose. “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 will take place 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 vaccination strategy, the vaccination recommendations must be more personalized, to strengthen the immunity of vulnerable patients because they are the ones who have severe cases, those who end up admitted 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 general adult population, the recommendation is to administer four doses of vaccine: three initial doses and a fourth booster doseeven if they transmitted the infection, recommending, as in the previous case, to wait 5 months from the start of the infection until this fourth dose is administered, although after 28 days from from the start of the infection, this dose can already be given as a booster dose, he says.
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 the mask in contact with vulnerable people and indoors, maintain frequent hand hygiene and avoid crowds and crowded events. “At the institutional level, citizens must continue to be informed to avoid excessive laxity,” they add.