Symptoms of Pirula, the coronavirus variant, and how long they last now in December

The Spanish Ministry of Health, through its Health Alerts and Emergency Coordination Centre, provides a biweekly update on the epidemiological situation of SARS-CoV-2 variants in the country. This frequency has been set for February 20, starting this week until July 2023. It must be recalled that the World Health Organization lifted the international state of emergency due to the Covid-19 pandemic on May 5, which it had declared since January 30, 2020.Due to the noticeable decrease in serious cases and deaths globally.

however, In recent weeks, there has been a clear rebound in cases, which does not deviate from the logic of what the scientific community expects.This is due to the deterioration of weather conditions in general due to the approaching winter season, which has looked more like autumn so far. he Carlos III Health Institute in its latest report on “Sentinel Surveillance of Acute Respiratory Infections in Primary Care (IRAs) and in Hospitals (SARI): Influenza, COVID-19 and Respiratory Syncytial Virus”Highlights an increase in SARS-CoV-2 positivity of 14.3% (13.3% in the previous week). The SARS-CoV-2 variant identified with the highest incidence in acute respiratory infections in primary care was XBB.1.5 (called Kraken at the time) + F456L (53.50%), followed by XBB.1.5 (16.87%) and BA.2.86. (14.81%). The dominant variants in recent weeks have been XBB.1.5 + F456L (41.79%) and BA.2.86 (41.79%).

Omicron still accounts for 100% of cases, and it was also the dominant variant in the first half of the year, XBB.1.5, which the WHO designated as a variant of concern on August 9. next to, In recent weeks, BA.2.86 (called Pirola) has emerged, which is currently the highest incidence, although the alert level issued by the World Health Organization remains low. BA.2.86 was discovered by the World Health Organization on August 18 It contains so many mutations that it has been classified as a “under surveillance” lineage. It has been found in the United States, China, and Spain and has been detected in various wastewaters.

Current COVID symptoms and duration

The most common symptoms in people infected with these strains include: Cough, fatigue, headache, sore throat, fever, congestion, runny nose, sneezing, hoarseness, muscle pain, shortness of breath, loss of smell and appetite, tachycardia, and diarrhea.. There is currently a high incidence of these symptoms, which the coronavirus has largely in common with influenza and the common cold.

PCR or antigen tests are rarely performed in health centers, so it is patients who do them at home, explains Dr. Luis Miguel García, vice president of the Aragon Society of Family and Community Medicine. “Colds and Covid currently coexist, and the same treatment applied until now is being used.”

The aforementioned symptoms appear for 4 or 5 days during the rise of the infection, and another 4 during the days of decline, although there are those who refuse to leave the infected body: “The cough remains for 2 or 3 weeks as symptoms” of the infection,” the doctor points out.

More data on the BA.2.86 variant of the coronavirus

Latest report of The World Health Organization in variant BA.2.86 speaks of its presence in at least 46 countriesWith a slow but continuous increase in the prevalence rate. Vaccinated populations remain highly resistant to infection, and thus there is no fear of its impact on public health systems. BA.2.86 was classified as a variant under surveillance (VUM) on August 17, mainly due to its numerous mutations: as many as 3,267 were classified on November 20. The largest number of sequences detected for this variant have been reported in the United Kingdom, followed by France, Sweden, Spain, Canada, Denmark and the United States.