BREAKING COVID-19 News! WHO Warns SARS-CoV-2 Infection Rates Are 2-19 Times Higher Than Reported And Cautions Of Looming Threat Of Long COVID!
Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Jan 13, 2024 10 months, 1 week, 2 days, 22 hours, 3 minutes ago
COVID-19 News: In a staggering revelation that has sent shockwaves through the global health community, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recently raised alarming concerns regarding the accuracy of reported COVID-19 infection rates worldwide. The startling information suggests that COVID levels are potentially two to 19 times higher than the officially documented numbers, a revelation supported by wastewater surveillance and data. WHO also stated that only 50 out of 234 countries are currently reporting daily or weekly COVID-19 data and in terms of COVID-19 hospitalization data, only 29 out of 234 countries are reporting such data while in terms of ICU admissions, only 21 countries are reporting such data!
Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, head of WHO's emerging diseases
& zoonoses unit, speaking during a recent online press conference.
Many mainstream media in various countries are not even reporting daily
COVID-19 News updates or coverages despite the surge in case numbers and hospitalizations and the need for the public to be aware of the actual COVID-19 situations unfolding in their countries.
The WHO said that at the current time, there are probably hundreds of thousands of individuals hospitalized due to COVID-19 as JN.1 now constitutes 71 percent of all circulating variants.
The pandemic's ongoing impact is still underappreciated, with death figures based on incomplete data from only 50 out of 234 countries reporting to the WHO. The true global death toll is estimated to be at least three times higher than the reported numbers!
Furthermore, the WHO has underscored the unsettling unknowns surrounding the long-term effects of COVID-19, urging global attention to the persisting threats posed by the virus. Worryingly, the WHO warned that the burden of cardiac impairment and that of other organs due to SARS-CoV-2 infections and reinfections are going to place an enormous burden of public healthcare in coming years.
The Hidden Dangers of Repeat COVID Infections
Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, the head of WHO's emerging diseases and zoonoses unit, emphasized the uncertainty surrounding the frequency of COVID infections due to the prevailing immunity in the population, stemming from vaccination and previous infections. The long-term repercussions of COVID, particularly cardiac, pulmonary, and neurologic impairments, remain a major concern. Dr Van Kerkhove questioned what the world might witness in terms of health impacts five, ten, or twenty years down the line, highlighting the extensive gaps in our understanding of the virus even after five years into the pandemic.
She also warned that many are also unaware that they are being constantly reinfected with various variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus as they could have asymptomatic or only mild symptoms and many are not testing often.
ng>Long COVID - A Real and Growing Threat
One of the major concerns highlighted by the WHO is the development of long COVID, a condition that affects 6% to 10% of those infected with the virus. Dr Van Kerkhove stressed the importance of recognizing long COVID as a genuine condition that requires thorough study. The pandemic's ongoing impact is still underappreciated, with death figures based on incomplete data from only 50 out of 234 countries reporting to the WHO. The true global death toll is estimated to be at least three times higher than the reported numbers!
Current State of the Pandemic
Contrary to perceptions that the pandemic is waning, Dr Van Kerkhove asserted that the world is still in the midst of a pandemic. The absence of a seasonal pattern in the virus's behavior and its rapid evolution continue to pose challenges. The emergence of the highly mutated JN.1, a descendant of the Omicron variant, is fueling the second-largest wave of the pandemic in the U.S. and contributing to rising hospitalizations and deaths globally.
Inadequate Reporting and Data Collection
The WHO expressed frustration over the inadequate reporting of COVID data by many countries. Dr Van Kerkhove revealed that death figures are based on data from only 50 countries out of 234, hospitalization figures from 29, and ICU data from just 21 countries. This incomplete reporting hampers the accurate assessment of the pandemic's true impact, making it necessary for the WHO to rely on data scraping from various sources. In fact, the WHO admitted that for years now, all the data that they have been reporting with regards to COVID-19 might not be accurate and has been painting a misleading perspective of the actual COVID-19 situations!
Concerns About a More Severe Variant
Addressing concerns about a potentially more severe variant, Dr Van Kerkhove stated that while studies point to the potential severity of the BA.2.86 variant, there is no evidence of a change in severity for JN.1, the globally dominant variant. However, the WHO remains deeply concerned about the unchecked circulation of the virus globally and the lack of preparedness for a more severe variant. The organization is actively monitoring the situation and may assign a new Greek letter to a variant if deemed necessary.
The WHO also warned that genomic surveillance is very low and that again, many countries are not even reporting such data.
The Effects of Reinfections
The emergence of the JN.1 variant has shifted the focus to the risk of reinfections and their potential long-term consequences. Studies indicate that each infection, even seemingly mild ones or even asymptomatic, increases the risk of long-term health issues such as diabetes, kidney disease, organ failure, and mental health struggles, collectively known as "Long COVID." The study suggests that the more reinfection cycles a person endures, the more the virus alters the immune system, raising concerns about the virus exploiting weakened defenses with each encounter.
Global Impact of COVID-19 Reinfections
The WHO claimed that while vaccines have played a crucial role in mitigating the severity of COVID-19, the study reveals a worrying trend that transcends demographics and vaccination status. The rate of infections correlates with the likelihood of long-term consequences, challenging the notion that repeated encounters with the virus are mild. The death of T-cells responsible for immune memory makes individuals more susceptible to other diseases, amplifying the overall health risks associated with COVID-19.
The Diverse Demographic Impact
The problem is not confined to a specific demographic. In addition to US-based studies, a broader Canadian study has confirmed the ominous trend: higher the infections, higher the likelihood of long-term shadows lingering. Further, the death of T-cells makes it easier for us to contract other diseases as well, such as severe pneumonia and infection caused by the respiratory syncytial virus. "Mild" infections may not be as mild as we thought, after all.
The Recent Pirola Outbreak - Adding Complexity to the Equation
The recent Pirola outbreak adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing crisis. This mutated strain boasts an uncanny ability to evade our immune defenses, rendering past vaccines and infections less effective. Early indications suggest the upgraded XBB.1.5 vaccines may offer some reprieve, fortunately. However, the evolving nature of the virus necessitates continuous adaptation in our strategies to combat its varied strains.
Global Preparedness and Mitigation Measures
As the WHO remains vigilant about the potential emergence of a more severe variant, it underscores the importance of global preparedness and mitigation measures. Dr Van Kerkhove speaking during a recent online press conference, emphasized the need for countries to recognize COVID as an ongoing global threat and to maintain agility in scaling up or down the flow of tests, antivirals, medical oxygen, and other necessary supplies.
https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1b/k1bydv18eb
The unchecked circulation of the virus worldwide poses a significant risk, and the WHO urges countries to remain vigilant and proactive in the face of potential threats.
Conclusion
As the world grapples with the ongoing challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the revelations from the WHO underscore the need for a comprehensive and accurate understanding of the virus's impact. The potential underreporting of infections, coupled with the looming threat of long COVID and the possibility of a more severe variant, necessitates a concerted global effort to address and mitigate the ongoing and future risks associated with COVID-19. The lessons learned from the past five years of the pandemic should serve as a catalyst for improved data collection, global cooperation, and proactive measures to safeguard public health. The evolving nature of the virus demands continuous research, adaptation, and collaboration to navigate the complexities of this unprecedented global health crisis.
For the latest COVID-19 News, keep on logging to Thailand Medical News.
Share
Tweet
Share
