Cindy Krischer Goodman | South Florida Sun Sentinel
A brand new omicron subvariant is spreading throughout the nation with an odd potential symptom: conjunctivitis, often known as pink eye.
Helix, a surveillance firm that tracks rising variants throughout the nation for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, found the variant referred to as XBB.1.16 or arcturus makes up as a lot as 5% of latest COVID circumstances in Florida. Arcturus seems to be extra contagious than different subvariants, and docs are reporting the pressure could also be linked to an increase in pink itchy eyes.
Health consultants say it’s unlikely conjunctivitis could be the one symptom related to a COVID-19 an infection, and notice that allergy season is right here, too. However, docs are reporting that together with cough and chilly signs related to COVID, youngsters are coming in with “itchy conjunctivitis with sticky eyes, not seen in earlier waves.”
Conjunctivitis is a swelling of the skinny layer that strains the white a part of the attention and may trigger discharge, crusting, and trigger the whites of the eyes to show pink or pink.
Arcturus was first detected in January in India, the place it has triggered a majority of latest COVID-19 circumstances and has notably impacted the nation’s youth. The World Health Organization has flagged it as a variant to observe.
Florida is one in all seven states within the nation the place arcturus is spreading, in accordance with Helix.
Arcturus was liable for 9.6% of latest infections for the week ending April 22, in accordance with CDC estimates. That proportion is up from about 6% of circumstances the week earlier than and about 3% two weeks earlier.
Public well being consultants consider arcturus’ proportion will improve within the coming weeks in Florida and different components of the nation, probably setting it as much as develop into the following dominant coronavirus pressure within the United States. However, circumstances so far haven’t precipitated healthcare suppliers to be involved about an uptick in extreme diseases, hospitalizations or deaths within the weeks forward.
Overall in Florida, COVID is circulating at comparatively low ranges. Florida reported solely 7,382 circumstances for the week of April 7, down from 17,329 in early February. More than 7.5 million folks in Florida have been confirmed with coronavirus for the reason that begin of the pandemic.
By now, no less than 16 million folks in Florida have had no less than one dose of a COVID vaccine.
Last week the CDC really helpful that folks ages 65 and older or with weakened immune methods get a second bivalent mRNA booster.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com”