Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Sep 13, 2024 4 days, 21 hours, 20 minutes ago
Coronavirus News: As COVID-19 continues to challenge public health globally, Hungary is seeing a resurgence of cases, particularly in cities like Miskolc. According to the National Public Health and Pharmaceutical Center's (NNGYK) latest reports, several regions are reporting increased coronavirus presence based on wastewater analysis.
Hungary reports rising COVID-19 and Influenza A infections rates
Wastewater Analysis Highlights Trends
Wastewater testing, a key tool in monitoring the spread of respiratory pathogens, shows that the national average concentration of SARS-CoV-2 genetic material slightly increased during the 35th and 36th weeks of 2024. Cities such as Budapest (specifically its Eszak-Pest region), Miskolc, Kaposvár, Nyíregyháza, Pécs, and Szekszárd are experiencing a steady rise. However, despite this trend, the virus's concentration remains moderate on a national leve
Interestingly, while some areas like Debrecen and parts of Budapest show stagnation, cities like Békéscsaba, Kecskemét, and Veszprém exhibit upward trends. Wastewater surveillance serves as an early indicator, suggesting that the number of COVID-19 cases in these regions may increase over time, though a significant surge is not anticipated in the near future.
https://nnk.gov.hu/index.php/kozlemenyek/407-integralt-felugyeleti-rendszer-eredmenyei/2639-integralt-felugyeleti-rendszer-eredmenyei-2024-36-het.html
Local
Coronavirus News outlets have also reported about the rising COVID-19 infections across Hungary.
https://borsod24.hu/2024/09/09/covid-nem-tunt-el-a-koronavirus-miskolcon-is-no-a-fertozesek-szama/
New Variants: JN.1 and KP.3
The variant landscape is evolving. The JN.1 variant, a sub-variant of BA.2.86, has been dominant in Hungary since early 2024. However, the emergence of a new subvariant, KP.3.1.1, has raised concerns. While KP.3.1.1, which originated from the BA.2.86 lineage, has become more prevalent in the United States, it has now been detected in Hungary as well. The good news is that KP.3.1.1 does not seem to cause more severe symptoms than its predecessors. This reflects global patterns where new variants emerge but do not necessarily worsen health outcomes.
The recent uptick in variant testing, enabled by higher virus concentrations in wastewater samples, reveals that while KP.3.1.1 is gaining ground, JN.1 remains the dominant strain. Health officials emphasize that current monitoring systems are robust enough to track these developments, and no drastic changes in case severity are expected due to the new variants.
Influenza A Also on the R
ise
In addition to the rising COVID-19 trends, Influenza A is becoming a concern as its genetic material has been detected in various parts of Hungary, including the Budapest agglomeration, Pécs, Székesfehérvár, and Szolnok. These findings highlight the importance of ongoing surveillance for multiple respiratory pathogens, especially as flu season approaches. The mild increase in Influenza A levels, alongside COVID-19, calls for continued vigilance, though no immediate threat of an epidemic is reported.
Public Health Outlook
While the current trends in COVID-19 and Influenza A cases are not alarming, the NNGYK report advises caution, particularly in the seven Hungarian cities showing upward trends. The situation is being closely monitored, and public health measures may be adjusted based on further data. Importantly, these findings underline the ongoing need for public awareness and preventive actions, even as severe outcomes from COVID-19 variants remain unlikely.
In conclusion, while Hungary is not facing an immediate public health crisis, the rising infection rates in certain cities and the presence of new variants like KP.3 emphasize the importance of staying informed and cautious, especially as respiratory illness season approaches. Wastewater surveillance continues to be a valuable tool for tracking the spread of viruses, providing a clear picture of trends and potential future developments.
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Read Also:
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/germany-reports-rise-in-covid-19-infections-with-6215-new-cases-for-epidemiological-week-36
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/new-covid-19-spike-across-23-american-states-revealed-through-wastewater-analysis
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