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South Africa

COVID-19: These Are Most Likely Symptoms Of New Pirola Variant Identified In Five States COVID-19: These Are Most Likely Symptoms Of New Pirola Variant Identified In Five States
Covid-19: These Are Most Likely Symptoms Of New Pirola Variant Identified In Five States The most likely symptoms of a new COVID-19 variant with around 30 mutations are expected to be similar to the highly contagious Omicron strain based on reports so far. COVID-related hospitalizations have increased in the US for six straight weeks, with a 19-percent increase reported in the most recent week, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The BA.2.86 strain, known as Pirola, has now been identified in five states: New York, Texas, Michigan, Virginia, and Ohio. The strain was first detected in Israel around Sunday, Aug. 20, and cases have also been identif…
COVID-19: First Omicron Case Reported In Montgomery County COVID-19: First Omicron Case Reported In Montgomery County
Covid-19: First Omicron Case Reported In Montgomery County The first case of the Omicron COVID-19 variant has been detected in Montgomery County, health officials announced Friday. The person is in their 20s and lives in Whitpain Township, the county health department said in a news release. It wasn't clear when they tested positive, when they last traveled, or if they were vaccinated. The department said it is coordinating with the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The news has prompted health officials to warn all Montgomery County residents to take precautions, "given the possibilit…
Omicron: Highly Transmissible Variant Expected To Cause 'Viral Blizzard,' Experts Say Omicron: Highly Transmissible Variant Expected To Cause 'Viral Blizzard,' Experts Say
Omicron: Highly Transmissible Variant Expected To Cause 'Viral Blizzard,' Experts Say Just when you think you've dodged the coronavirus, up pops a new variant: Omicron.  The good news is that the new COVID-19 variant is milder than the Delta variant, but chances of reinfection are nearly five times higher, according to a recent study by the Imperial College London. Experts say that a "viral blizzard" could be upon us in the coming weeks, all thanks to Omicron. That means that Omicron might actually be helpful in achieving herd immunity faster. Officials are still urging everyone to get vaccinated, which can prevent life-threatening symptoms of the COVID-…
COVID-19: Two Omicron Cases Detected In Lehigh Valley COVID-19: Two Omicron Cases Detected In Lehigh Valley
Covid-19: Two Omicron Cases Detected In Lehigh Valley Two cases of the Omicron COVID-19 variant have been detected in the Lehigh Valley, health officials announced. St. Luke's University Health Network confirmed two cases on Thursday and is investigating at least 30 other suspicious cases, according to a news release. The network says those cases likely account for a portion of recent breakthrough cases. “This is another reason to strongly consider getting a booster shot, or to be immunized if you haven’t already,” said Jeffrey Jahre, MD, St. Luke’s Senior Vice President of Medical & Academic Affairs and Section Chief Emeritus of Infectio…
COVID-19: First Case Of Omicron Variant Reported In New Jersey COVID-19: First Case Of Omicron Variant Reported In New Jersey
Covid-19: First Case Of Omicron Variant Reported In New Jersey The first case of the new COVID-19 variant has been detected in New Jersey, state officials announced Friday. The woman, who is a fully vaccinated Georgia resident, had recently traveled to South Africa, Governor Phil Murphy and New Jersey Department of Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli said in a joint statement. The woman has been kept in isolation since she tested positive on Nov. 28. She had moderate symptoms and is now recovering after being treated in a North Jersey emergency department, officials said. Officials are awaiting the results of a sequencing report from The New Jer…
COVID-19: Philadelphia Resident Tests Positive For Omicron Variant COVID-19: Philadelphia Resident Tests Positive For Omicron Variant
Covid-19: Philadelphia Resident Tests Positive For Omicron Variant UPDATE (8:30 p.m.):  New Jersey officials announced the first detection of the Omicron variant in the state just hours after this report was published. CLICK HERE to read "COVID-19: First Case Of Omicron Variant Reported In New Jersey" *** (4:55 p.m.): A day after the first case of the new COVID-19 variant was identified in a Minnesota man who traveled to New York City, a Philadelphia resident has tested positive for the Omicron COVID-19 strain. The person is a man in his 30’s from Northwest Philadelphia, the city's health department announced Friday. It was unclear when he tes…
COVID-19: Man Who Went To NY Conference Tests Positive For Omicron Variant COVID-19: Man Who Went To NY Conference Tests Positive For Omicron Variant
Covid-19: Man Who Went To NY Conference Tests Positive For Omicron Variant A day after the first case of the new COVID-19 variant was identified in the United States, a man from the Midwest who attended a conference in New York City has tested positive for the Omicron COVID-19 strain. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Thursday, Dec. 2 that the Department of Health in Minnesota alerted her that a constituent tested positive for the variant after spending time at the conference held at the Javits Center in Manhattan. Earlier story - COVID-19: First Case Of New Omicron Variant Identified In United States Hochul noted that the person who contracted th…
COVID-19: First Case Of New Omicron Variant Identified In United States COVID-19: First Case Of New Omicron Variant Identified In United States
Covid-19: First Case Of New Omicron Variant Identified In United States Omicron, the new strain of COVID that has caused worldwide alarm the last week, has been detected in the United States for the first time. Health officials had been bracing for the first such Omicron case for days, and early Wedneday afternoon, Dec. 1, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention confirmed a person in California has been infected with the new strain. The San Francisco Department of Health said the individual was a traveler who returned from South Africa on Monday, Nov. 22, and tested positive for COVID on Monday, Nov. 29. The individual was fully vaccinated and experie…
New COVID Variant Has Scientists Worried New COVID Variant Has Scientists Worried
New COVID Variant Has Scientists Worried Another COVID-19 variant with multiple mutations is the subject of a special meeting called by the World Health Organization for Friday. The meeting on the B.1.1.529 variant detected in South Africa will focus on what the new variant means for treatments and vaccines, the organization said Thursday. The WHO was expected to give the new variant a name on Friday. WHO's technical COVID-19 lead Maria Van Kerkhove said in live Q&A briefing that a virus with many mutations impacts the nature of how it behaves. UK Health Security agent Sajid Javid says much is still unknown about the new var…
COVID-19: Unvaccinated Woman Dies After Contracting Two Strains At Same Time, Scientists Say COVID-19: Unvaccinated Woman Dies After Contracting Two Strains At Same Time, Scientists Say
Covid-19: Unvaccinated Woman Dies After Contracting Two Strains At Same Time, Scientists Say Scientists are warning that it's possible to contract two COVID-19 strains at the same time after an unvaccinated woman died who had been infected by different variants. The woman, age 90, was admitted to a Belgium hospital to treat injuries from a fall and tested positive for COVID that day, according to a report by the European Congress on Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases. Though she did not display symptoms when admitted and displayed good oxygen saturation, she quickly developed rapidly worsening respiratory problems and died less than a week later. When respiratory…
COVID-19: First Case Of 'Variant Of Concern' From India Found In US COVID-19: First Case Of 'Variant Of Concern' From India Found In US
Covid-19: First Case Of 'Variant Of Concern' From India Found In US As COVID-19 deaths mount in India, health officials in the United States are now contending with a new strain of the virus that has been reported stateside. One day after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that the COVID-19 variant from India was a “cause of global concern,” it was announced that the strain had spread to dozens of countries, including the United States. The so-called B.1617 variant made its first domestic appearance after it was discovered in a patient in Arizona being treated for COVID. According to researchers, the India variant, like several others that have …