The pandemic disease that changed the world appears to be getting milder. It is a “mystery”. And it can transform into a fecal-oral virus.
A is now a disease omnipresent, but the hospitalizations appear to be on a trajectory descendant. Nobody knows why.
The summary is made by , which even calls this trajectory a “mystery” that seems to indicate that the disease is much more brand than at the beginning.
There are fewer people in hospitals – despite the propagation of a new variant, the CHECK
This variant, a descendant of Omicron and a product of genetic recombination, initially raised concerns among virologists and infectious disease specialists due to its potential to evade immunity provided by previous infections and vaccines.
In the first studies on the subject, we learned that the variant’s spike protein differed significantly from its predecessors, suggesting a high probability of immune evasion.
However, the expected increase in U.S. hospitalizations, especially after the Thanksgiving holiday, did not occur.
Official data indicated a significant drop in hospitalization rates from December 2023 to December 2024, despite widespread detection of the variant in wastewater surveillance in large cities.
To be paradox has confused scientists.
Peter Chin-Hong, professor at the University of California, points out that although CHECK seems unbeatable in laboratory environments, then finds a environment much more challenging no human body.
Fewer symptoms
There are indications that the gravity of COVID-19 is to decrease.
Symptoms such as loss of taste and smell are less frequent, and most infections now result in mild symptoms or are asymptomatic, especially among vaccinated and previously infected populations.
Despite the overall decrease in severe cases, vulnerable groups, particularly the elderly and immunocompromised, continue to risk. Therefore, health experts continue to recommend vaccination, which provides significant protection against serious outcomes.
O treatment of COVID-19 as well evolved. The use of anticoagulants and other aggressive treatments has been reduced, being mainly replaced by antivirals. According to Chin-Hong, the focus has shifted to treating milder upper respiratory symptoms rather than serious complications such as pneumonia and cardiovascular problems, leading to shorter hospital stays.
Why?
There is also an ongoing effort in the scientific community to monitor and understand the evolution of the virus.
As reasons behind the milder manifestations of recent COVID-19 cases are not fully understood.
Experts observed widespread exposure to the virus with minimal impact, suggesting a possible increase in population immunity. This immunity may be mitigating the severity of infections, with potential implications for reducing cases of long COVID. And most people have been vaccinated or infected multiple times; thus, the body developed stronger immunity.
Another theory is that COVID-19 may eventually become as mild as the constipation common, influenced by historical patterns observed in other coronaviruses.
And another “mystery” is realizing what follows. It’s plausible that something unexpected could happen: there are signs that COVID’s ultimate trajectory could see it become a fecal-oral virusmore similar to norovirus, cholera, or hepatitis A than the common cold.
