On January 11, 2020 Authorities in China announced the first death by an unknown coronovation. Was her appearance COVID-19.
Five years after the start of the pandemic caused by the severe respiratory syndrome 2 (SARS-COV2), Covid-19 has ceased to upset the planet, but is not yet past as it still causes infections- often persistent- and deaths.
So far Covid -9 has officially infected 777 million people and has caused the death of more than 7 million, Although in fact the number is estimated to be larger, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
But with the passage of time and the various waves of the disease, the effects of Covid-19 on deaths and hospitalizations have been significantly limited, thanks to the immunity that the population has acquired through vaccinations and/or infections.
Covid is still killing (more than 3,000 deaths were recorded from October to November 2024 in 27 countries, according to WHO), but the vast majority of deaths due to illness was recorded by in 2020 to 2022.
‘End’ of the pandemic in the spring of 2023
Pandemic is considered to have ended the Spring of 2023 When the World Health Organization was the highest level of alarm it had declared.
The virus has not been eliminated, but it appears to have been gradually endemic, with regular exacerbation waves, such as influenza, observes various experts.
However ‘people want to forget that this virus is still with us, People want to put Covid in the past – And in various ways to pretend that nothing happened – because the whole experience was traumatic, “Dr. Maria Van Kerhove Preparation for Epidemia and Pandemics at WHO.
In the fall of 2021 the variant of the same
The era of variant Identity It started in the fall of 2021 and continues: one undercover replacement replaces the other, without causing more severe symptoms.
However, the scenario of young executives of the virus who will be more contagious or bypassing people’s immunity, should not be completely ruled out, some scientists estimate.
In any case, Sars-COV2 will remain among us.
The role of vaccines
Critical importance to dealing with pandemic was the vaccinationwhich was made at an intensive pace. More than 13.6 billion doses of vaccines were given worldwidealthough access to them was very uneven between the rich and the poor countries.
Experts continue to recommend vaccines that have been amended to deal with the variant of the same, especially for the most vulnerable, because they continue to provide protection from the serious forms of diseases and the risk of Long Covid.
As far as treatment is concerned, this remains the same after the appearance of Omikron: some antiviral drugs and monoclonal antibodies.
Some innovations brought or accelerated by the pandemic, mainly MRNA vaccines They gave birth to hopes for the treatment of other diseases, such as cancer.
Long Covid symptoms
Fatigue, cough, shortness of breath, periodic fever, loss of taste or smell, difficulties in concentrating, depression … Those affected by Long Covid have one or more of these symptoms, generally for three months after infection, which persist for at least two months.
About 6% of those infected with Covid are affected by this syndrome, the who at the end of December said, stressing that it continues to “burden health systems”.
Women and those suffering from underlying illnesses are more affected by Long Civid, while repetitions appear to increase the risk of occurring.
Covid -9 will not be last pandemic
Covid -9 will not be the last pandemic, so scientists are sure. The point is to find out when the next one will appear and if the world will be prepared for it.
About 60% with 70% of new diseases are animal, that is, they come from an animal. The risk of infection by them is intensified due to deforestation, which increases the contact of people with wild animals, which may carry unknown viruses.
The Covid era also reinforced contempt for vaccines and misinformation. It is indicative that new US President Donald Trump wants to appoint Robert F. Kennedy Junior, a well -known anti -vaccination.