latest I know of
Eric Topol on the current wave and details of how it differs from the early Omicron.
The Indomitable Covid Virus
https://erictopol.substack.com/p/the...le-covid-virus
Quote:
Fortunately, the rise in levels of the virus, still going up in all 4 major US regions (most recent CDC data below) has not been linked with as much severe Covid (absolute increase) as was seen in prior waves, but compared to last week there was a relative increase of 25% of deaths and 12% increase in emergency room visits due to Covid.
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The antigenic distance map below reflects that evolution. JN.1 is further way from the infamous Omicron BA.1 than BA.1 is from the major variants of 2020 and 2021 (Wuhan-ancestral, D614G, Alpha, Delta, Beta). KP.3 and KP.3.1.1. is to the right of JN.1 (not shown), even further away. The virus will not stop here, despite our desire to will it way. It will continue to find new ways to infect and reinfect us, under selection pressure from our prior immunity (be it infections, vaccinations, or combinations).
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Added to problem of the virus‘s evolution and, as a result, is the blunting of our immune response, the big issue of waning immunity.
The vaccine boosters only last 4-6 months for protection from severe Covid, do little after early weeks for any protection from infections or spread. The same goes for infections. Neutralizing antibody levels go down. Our interferon first line of defense gets blocked (Shane Crotty called this the “superpower of SARS-CoV-2” in our podcast this week).
Good luck ...it is so endemic there is a constant risk of catching it.....much lower risk of severe outcomes. Ask the nurse for advice and have test kits available.
The covid now is a long ways from the original killer but far more infectious. There are anti-virals