HOUSTON – COVID-19 continues to make its presence known worldwide as it adapts and evolves into a new strand.
American Medical Association Vice President of Science, Medicine and Public Health, Andrea Garcia, JD, MPH, reported that HV.1 has become the predominant variant in the United States, accounting for nearly one-third of cases nationwide, according to an article from the TODAY Show. The omicron subvariant is also said to be “highly infectious.”
SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, continuously undergoes genetic mutations over time. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides estimates of variant proportions for two-week periods. These estimates showed that HV.1 quickly became the dominant strain in October. Garcia emphasized the need to monitor the HV.1 variant due to its high transmissibility.
Following omicron’s emergence in December 2021, subsequent dominant variants have originated from it, as per a report by NBC News.
COVID-19 Symptoms
COVID-19 symptoms may include:
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Coughing
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Shortness of breath
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Difficulty breathing
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Congestion
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Sore throat
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Fever and chills
Precautions
The CDC recommends the following precautions and measures:
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Get your COVID-19 vaccines as recommended
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Stay home if you are sick
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Get tested for COVID-19 if needed
It is also recommended by the CDC that everyone six months and older should get an updated COVID-19 vaccine.
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