Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Jun 20, 2024 5 months, 1 day, 4 hours, 28 minutes ago
COVID-19 News: As the UK enters the summer months, COVID-19 appears to be making a comeback. Recent data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) shows a significant rise in hospitalizations due to COVID-19, marking the early stages of a fresh summer wave. In just one week, hospital admissions increased by 24%, jumping from 2.67 to 3.31 people per 100,000.
United Kingdom Faces New Summer COVID-19 Wave As Hospital Admissions Surge
Waning Immunity and New Variant: The Double Threat
Experts attribute this surge to two primary factors: waning immunity and the spread of a new variant known as KP.3. The immunity built up from vaccines and previous infections is gradually decreasing, making the population more susceptible to new infections. This situation is exacerbated by the rapid spread of KP.3, which has quickly risen to account for 44% of UK infections, nearly doubling in less than two weeks.
Hospital Admissions and Positivity Rates on the Rise
The rise in hospital admissions is accompanied by an increase in COVID-19 positivity rates. Laboratory tests reveal that positivity rates for COVID-19 increased by 19% in a week, climbing from 8.4% to 10%. Similarly, tests conducted by general practitioners (GPs) show a 13% rise, from 4.7% to 5.3%. These indicators, although based on smaller sample sizes, suggest a clear upward trend in COVID-19 cases.
Expert Insights: A Wakeup Call
Professor Dr Lawrence Young, a virologist at Warwick University told
COVID-19 News outlets, “This is a wakeup call. The virus hasn’t gone away and is certainly not a seasonal infection,” warns He emphasizes the role of new, more infectious variants and waning immunity in driving the increased infection levels. Professor Young expresses hope that this will not result in a major wave of infections but stresses the need for vigilance.
Professor Christina Pagel from University College London added, “The May wave was likely driven by a combination of waning immunity and the growth of the KP.2 coronavirus variant. I don’t know whether the KP.3 wave will be bigger than the KP.2 May wave, but I am pretty sure that it will cause another wave, making this summer a more COVID-prevalent summer than last year where June and July were very quiet months.”
Surveillance Report Highlights
The UKHSA's surveillance report for week 24 of 2024 provides a comprehensive overview of the current situation. The report shows an overall increase in COVID-19 activity, while influenza activity has decreased. Specifically, COVID-19 hospital admissions increased to 3.31 per 100,000, with the highest admission rates observed in those aged 85 and over. Intensive care unit (ICU) admissions remain low but have also seen a slight increase.
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66740b
2fd427ab249955cecf/weekly-flu-and-COVID-19-report-2024-week-25.pdf
Other Respiratory Viruses
The report also tracks other respiratory viruses. Influenza positivity has decreased to 0.8%, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) positivity remains low at 0.2%. Adenovirus positivity has slightly decreased to 2.4%, while human metapneumovirus (hMPV) positivity stands at 1.6%. Parainfluenza positivity decreased to 1.9%, and rhinovirus positivity has slightly increased to 9.4%.
Preparing for the Future
The rise in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations highlights the ongoing threat of the virus, even during the summer months. As new variants continue to emerge and immunity wanes, it is crucial for public health authorities to monitor the situation closely and be prepared to implement measures to curb the spread of the virus.
The public is also urged to remain vigilant, especially those in vulnerable groups. Continued vaccination efforts, including booster doses, are essential to maintaining immunity levels and protecting against severe illness. The emergence of the KP.3 variant serves as a reminder that COVID-19 is still a significant public health concern, requiring ongoing attention and action from both authorities and the public.
Conclusion
As the UK faces a new summer wave of COVID-19, driven by waning immunity and the spread of the KP.3 variant, it is essential to remain vigilant and proactive. The recent surge in hospitalizations and positivity rates underscores the need for continued surveillance, vaccination efforts, and public awareness to mitigate the impact of this new wave.
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Read Also:
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/covid-19-resurgence-in-france-rising-hospitalizations-expert-warnings-and-public-health-concerns
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/covid-19-updates-34-deaths-4788-new-cases-reported-in-new-zealand-in-past-week
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