'Increase in 38 States'... "Virus Surges in Summer"
As summer arrives, signs indicate that COVID-19 infections are rising again in the United States.
On the 29th, Yonhap News, citing US CNN, reported that according to data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), at least 38 states are likely experiencing an increase in COVID-19 infections recently.
Since the end of the US public health emergency last year, the CDC no longer tracks infection cases, but hospital emergency room records show an upward trend in infections. CNN also reported that hospitalizations and deaths due to COVID-19 have increased over the past few weeks. Particularly, high viral activity has been observed in the western and southern regions. Specifically, California, Nevada, and Arizona have a positivity rate of 13.6%, higher than other areas.
This is interpreted as being due to the early arrival of the heatwave, creating an environment conducive to virus survival.
Dr. Robert Hopkins of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases stated, "Viruses tend to replicate and survive well in warm and humid environments," adding, "Currently, the southern and western regions are hot and humid."
He warned that while summer COVID-19 outbreaks follow a familiar seasonal pattern, they remain difficult to predict. Dr. Hopkins said, "It seems too early to define a pattern. The virus has tended to surge in summer and increase again in winter, but it is still premature to say whether this pattern will continue or if it will become an endemic disease circulating year-round."
This year, the increase in COVID-19 cases is faster than in previous years. It is analyzed that the virus outbreak has already reached levels similar to last year's peak. Last winter, the JN.1 variant was dominant, but recently, new KP.3 and KP.2 variants account for more than half of COVID-19 infections.
Accordingly, the CDC recommends that everyone who received their COVID-19 vaccine more than six months ago get the updated COVID-19 vaccine. CNN reported that the new vaccine is expected to be released between mid-August and the end of September.
Meanwhile, former director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Robert Redfield, warned that a highly pathogenic avian influenza pandemic is a matter of time. He explained that when avian influenza transmits to humans, the mortality rate is “significant” compared to COVID-19, estimating “probably between 25% and 50% mortality.”
The World Health Organization (WHO) stated that from early 2003 to early April this year, there have been 889 human cases of avian influenza infection in 23 countries worldwide, with 463 deaths, resulting in a 52% fatality rate. NewsNation reported that, by comparison, the COVID-19 mortality rate is only 0.6%.
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