There are several circulating subvariants of Omicron globally. But what are they and why are we not as concerned as WHO officials about it? ADVERTISEMENT While the height of the pandemic may be over, the virus that causes COVID-19 continues to mutate with multiple variants circulating in every country. Yet despite this, testing and surveillance …
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 …
HV.1, a new COVID-19 subvariant, is making waves in Canada. According to health experts, the subvariant is on track to become the dominant strain this winter. While there is no significant cause for alarm at this time, it is still recommended to stay informed and consult with medical professionals before making any changes to your …
Public health officials are warning that there is a surge in COVID-19 infections just as the fall and winter respiratory virus season approaches, bringing with it the respiratory syncytial virus and influenza. To combat this, Health Canada has authorized an updated mRNA COVID-19 vaccine developed by Moderna, which targets the XBB.1.5 Omicron subvariant that is …
Federal scientists from Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada will closely monitor global research to determine the effectiveness of updated COVID-19 vaccines against the Omicron variant. The first known case of the Omicron variant BA.2.86 was detected in British Columbia, making Canada the seventh country to report its presence. Health Canada is …
Since the global emergence of Omicron in 2021, the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 has been following a slower and more predictable path. While new variants of interest have come and gone, none have matched Omicron’s extensive mutations or its rapid spread. However, around two weeks ago, a variant descended from BA.2 appeared with 34 mutations in …
Concerns are rising among global health authorities as COVID-19 cases surge in countries in the Northern Hemisphere. This is particularly worrisome because respiratory illnesses tend to peak during the winter months in these regions. The World Health Organization (WHO) is urging countries to enhance their surveillance and reporting of COVID-19 due to an increase in …
EG.5, a fast-spreading subvariant of COVID-19, is now circulating in Canada, sparking international concern among health officials. The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified EG.5 as a “variant of interest,” although Health Canada has not listed it as such. While EG.5 has gained momentum in countries like Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and …
This fall, there is a possibility that Americans will receive a new COVID vaccine without the strain that caused the pandemic years ago. Instead of the current bivalent vaccine, which protects against two variants, the next vaccine could focus solely on the spike protein of the XBB.1 lineage of the Omicron variant. This change in …