SAN ANTONIO – Every COVID-19 variant and subvariant brings modifications to our each day lives.
The first pressure proper now could be BA.5, an Omicron subvariant current in 88% of present instances — probably the most infectious pressure but.
Viewers have despatched in questions asking how quickly you might be reinfected after getting COVID-19, so we ran them by the KSAT Belief Index.
BA.5 tends to trigger much less severe illness however is extra contagious.
“Issues have modified a bit, as all issues COVID appear to do. Beforehand, with the preliminary pressure, after you had been contaminated, we noticed that individuals had pure immunity that will final for no less than three months and typically for much longer,” mentioned Dr. Jason Bowling, affiliate professor and infectious illness specialist on the Lengthy College of Medication at UT Well being San Antonio and chief epidemiologist at College Well being.
Bowling has carefully watched the variations in reinfection with every pressure.
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“Now we’re seeing folks get contaminated, after which, actually about 4 weeks later, they’re contaminated with one other COVID an infection, believably from an identical pressure that’s associated to the preliminary Omicron,” Bowling mentioned.
Reinfection is completely different than rebound infections, which occur in uncommon instances when folks take the medicine Paxlovid.
The medicine is given after analysis and is supposed to uninteresting an infection in high-risk sufferers. Lately, medical doctors gave it to President Joe Biden and Dr. Anthony Fauci after they examined constructive for COVID-19.
“Paxlovid drops your viral load and suppresses your signs. However while you cease taking it, what we’ve seen in a small proportion of individuals is their viral load can return up once more, and so they can have signs once more,” Bowling mentioned.
Whereas rebound infections can happen, the severity of the sickness stays low.
“So it’s the identical virus. It’s not a brand new an infection that’s a rebound of that virus,” Bowling defined.
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Bowling mentioned vaccines might be key with regards to reinfection.
“Individuals with the vaccine are inclined to have a extra stronger response and a longer-lasting response. They’ll nonetheless get contaminated, however they’re somewhat bit higher shielded from extra extreme illness,” Bowling mentioned.
He mentioned folks with the perfect safety towards COVID-19 have had a pure an infection and are vaccinated.
In order as to whether these present strains could cause quicker reinfection, that’s true on the KSAT Trust Index.
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