Global Courant 2023-04-21 02:00:39
Los Angeles County has identified the first cases of an emerging sub-variant of the Omicron coronavirus called Arcturus, a strain under close scrutiny by health authorities worldwide as it has been linked to an uptick in cases in India.
Officially referred to as XBB.1.16, the subvariant has also attracted attention following anecdotal reports linking it to what has been a rare COVID-19 symptom: pink eye.
However, it remains unclear whether this symptom is more pronounced in Arcturus than in previous Omicron strains. The latest subvariant has not been shown to cause more severe disease.
However, it is possible that Arcturus is even more contagious than the currently dominant coronavirus strain in the US, XBB.1.5. While that’s probably not enough to trigger another surge in cases, any increase in transmission increases the risk for vulnerable individuals.
“This is one to watch. It’s been circulating for a few months now.” Mary Van Kerkhovethe World Health Organization’s technical lead on COVID-19 said recently.
It’s unclear how many Arcturus cases there have been in California. However, according to public health director Barbara Ferrer, at least three have been identified in LA County.
Because Arcturus is another Omicron subvariant, Ferrer said it’s likely that current vaccines and therapeutic drugs will remain effective against this strain.
Still, Ferrer said in an interview: “With each new mutation displacing what’s already there… they’ll probably be able to pass on an infection more easily. So you could see a bump.
The unofficial name Arcturus is Latin and is derived from the Greek word arktouros, meaning keeper or watchman of the bear. It is also the name of the fourth brightest star in the night sky.
According to data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it is now considered the second most common coronavirus strain nationwide, accounting for an estimated 7.2% of cases. That’s notably higher than the estimated 2.1% share in the week ending April 1.
XBB.1.5, meanwhile, accounted for an estimated 78% of new cases nationwide in the week ending Saturday.
For the Southwestern US — including California, Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii, and the Pacific regions — Arcturus was responsible for an estimated 9.8% of cases, up from an estimated 2.6% in the week ending Oct. April 1st.
In India, authorities say Arcturus has begun replacing older versions of the coronavirus.
“Early reports in India and more than 20 countries show a disproportionate increase in people being sent to hospital. But it causes an increase in the number of cases,” said Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, UC San Francisco infectious disease expert. With a relatively low number of cases in the US, “if you give a little bit more benefit to a particular subvariety, the number of cases will increase.”
There have also been anecdotal reports of it pink eyeor conjunctivitis, in coronavirus-infected people in India, especially in children.
Prior to Arcturus, pink eye had been associated as a symptom in 1% to 3% of coronavirus cases, according to Chin-Hong and Ferrer.
“It’s always been a side effect (of COVID-19), although very rare,” Ferrer said. “Untreated, it can actually cause more damage to people’s eyes. If you have pink eye – for whatever reason – it needs to be treated.
As a common symptom, pink eye is hardly unheard of and can be caused by other viruses and bacteria. According to the National Eye Institute, “It is one of the most common eye problems for both children and adults.”
“Just because you have pink eye doesn’t mean you have COVID. You should get tested, especially if you have other symptoms,” Ferrer said.
According to the National Eye Institutepeople who are around someone with pink eye should make sure to wash their hands often with soap and water or use hand sanitizer with alcohol in it.
Always wash your hands before touching your eyes and after touching a person with pink eyes or anything they’ve used.
“Don’t share any personal items that the person with pink eye has used — including pillows, towels, makeup, or glasses,” the institute said.
People with pink eye who wear contact lenses should talk to their eye doctor about how to clean, store, and replace their lenses. They should also throw away any lenses, fluid, and cases they used while they had pink eye. The same goes for facial or eye makeup, as well as makeup brushes or sponges.
Coronavirus cases are relatively stable at lower levels in California. As of Wednesday, there was no sign of an increase in coronavirus levels in LA County wastewater or in officially reported coronavirus cases.
“But it’s always possible. I expect if we see an increase, I hope it will be relatively small,” Ferrer said.
While many believe the days of hospitals being overwhelmed by COVID-19 patients are over, any increase in cases could still lead to an increase in hospital admissions. therapeutic anti-COVID drugs such as Paxlovid and molnupiravir in case you become infected.
Chin-Hong said he suspects the rise in the newest subvariant was a factor in federal officials’ move this week to make a new booster dose available to the elderly and immunocompromised.
“I don’t think we’ll ever see anything like a ‘regular increase’ between quotes and quotes again. But we will see these little bumps. And I feel like XBB.1.16 could put a little bump in our cases, a little bump in hospitalizations,” he said. “But we’re so low now that when you’re that low, there’s only one way you can go, and that’s up.”
