2023-11-21 21:17:14
The Covid-19 remains “a threat”, said Tuesday the World Health Organizationfour years following the appearance of a disease which has claimed millions of lives and ravaged the global economy, but is no longer seen as a priority.
“This virus, SARS-CoV-2, is currently circulating in all countries and still poses a threat,” warned Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO scientist responsible for leading the fight once morest the pandemic. “We must remain vigilant because the virus circulates, evolves and changes,” she insisted, during an exchange with the public on social networks.
Three variants of “interest”
Maria Van Kerkhove was one of the faces of the WHO’s battle once morest the disease. She is now interim director responsible for preparing and preventing epidemics and pandemics.
There are currently three variants of the Covid-19 virus (XBB.1.5, XXB.1.16 and EG.5) called “of interest”, that is to say subject to enhanced surveillance. A fourth (BA.2.86) must join this cohort even if he does not present increased severity of the disease. “We have seen a slow and steady increase in its detection around the world,” explained Dr. Van Kerkhove.
Long Covid worries
Faced with the Covid-19 pandemic, the WHO declared a public health emergency of international concern on January 30, 2020, its highest level of alert, finally lifted on May 5, 2023.
In addition to the acute and immediate symptoms, the WHO is concerned regarding the long-term effects caused by the virus, known as long Covid. “We have evidence that vaccination with Covid-19 vaccines reduces risk » the Covid long, a déclaré Maria Van Kerkhove.
She indicated that 13.5 billion Covid-19 vaccines have been administered worldwide since the first injections at the end of 2020. She also encouraged residents of the northern hemisphere, where winter is soon beginning, to get vaccinate once morest Covid and flu.
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