US hit by worst Covid wave since 2022, hospitalisation rate soars
The new surge is being blamed on waning immunity among people Photograph:( Others )
Story highlights
As per US media reports, new vaccines targeting the latest virus variant KP.2 may hit the markets as early as early September, subject to approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
As per US media reports, new vaccines targeting the latest virus variant KP.2 may hit the markets as early as early September, subject to approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The United States is experiencing its worst summer Covid wave in more than two years, leading to increased infections and hospital visits. The wastewater dashboard of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealed that viral activity levels in the wastewater have hit the highest since July 2022. The wastewater activity surged to 8.82 on August 10, slightly less than the highest ever recorded in July 2022 at 9.56.
As per US media reports, new vaccines targeting the latest virus variant KP.2 may hit the markets as early as September, subject to approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Hospitalisation rate increases
The CDC data showed that the Covid hospitalisation rate had increased to four people for every 100,000 by July end, up from 1 in May end.
Also read: Another Covid-like scare from China? Experts tell WION what exactly it is
“This is a very significant surge. The levels are very high. They’re the highest we’ve ever seen during a summer wave,” Dr Marlene Wolfe, an assistant professor of environmental health and public health at Emory University and a program director for WastewaterSCAN, was quoted as saying by CNN.
“We’re detecting SARS-CoV-2 in 100 percent of our samples across the country right now,” Wolfe added.
Reason behind surge in Covid wave
The new surge is being blamed on waning immunity among people as well as a trio of variants that evolved from their parent virus JN.1.
Also read: ‘I had a lot of dizziness’: Montreal resident shares his suffering with Long Covid for three years
The situation has turned more volatile as children return to schools in many parts of the country. It is not clear when the country may see the peak.
Vaccines in early September
A report in the Washington Post revealed that new mRNA shots have been prepared by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, especially to target the KP.2 variant.
Once approved by the FDA, they may be made available for use by the first week of September. However, it was not clear when the FDA will approve the new shots.
A protein-based vaccine is also being developed by Novavax, but it may take longer to hit the market.
(With inputs from agencies)
