The pandemic continues, the virus develops and continues to be several steps ahead of us, say experts with whom K spoke about the emergence mutation XBB.1.5 (“Kraken”) in Greece.

This is a highly contagious version of the Omicron variant that quickly spread across the US and began to spread worldwide. This subvariant was first identified in the fall in New York State.

It currently accounts for about 28% of cases in the US. This is the version of the virus that seems to be better able to evade immune defenses and enter cells, and some experts call it the most contagious version.

We asked two experts, Mr. pathologist Giorgos Pappaauthor and editor of the popular Coronavirus Diaries and a PhD in molecular biology from the University of Ontario, Yannis Prassato analyze the development of events and answer the question: How dangerous is the Kraken and how much should we fear.

Giorgos Pappas: The virus is one step ahead

“This is another next-generation variant of Omicron that demonstrates advantages that may allow it to prevail: namely, it exhibits (as demonstrated by the always reliable Yunlong Cao team) a greater affinity for the virus receptor in the human body than the current predominant strain. . Therefore, he has the ability to displace him and dominate.

At the same time, it exhibits a similar ability to the current dominant strain to evade immunity acquired through vaccination and/or infection (even from the combination of vaccination and infection with the Omicron BA.5 strains that prevailed in Greece in the second half of the 2000s). 2022 and BF.7 which dominates in China).

The combination of these two parameters means that the predominance of the strain will mean further infection and re-infection, as well as maintaining the chains of transmission in society that feed the 20 dead in Greece every day, limit life and other treatments for immunodeficiencies, and increase the number of people who suffer from prolonged Covid. However, we have no evidence that the strain currently causes more severe disease than its predecessors.

How quickly and massively will it take over? It depends on the specifics of each country.

The appearance of the Kraken speaks to the obvious: the pandemic continues, and the virus evolves and continues to be several steps ahead of us. Characteristically, this particular strain renders useless, before it is well used, the nasal monoclonal antibody for prevention and treatment that the Chinese have begun to use, SA58.

Giannis Prassas: It’s hidden by neutralizing antibodies

XBB. 1.5 is a new sub-variant of COVID-19 that was first identified in October and is now rapidly spreading in many countries, crowding out other local variants. It looks like this will be the next planetary wave of SARS-COV2 to sweep our communities.

The rapid spread of this variant is mainly due to the ability of the virus to hide very well from the neutralizing antibodies we have, which again makes us all much more vulnerable to possible reinfection (even if we were recently infected with another variant). This does not mean that we completely lose the protection we received from our previous vaccinations (or from a previous potentially dangerous infection).

There are lines of defense that continue to protect us from the possibility of serious illness after a potential infection (which is why we do not expect borderline intensive care units to reappear with more than 500-600 hospitalizations. Note: This option by its nature may not show more more harmful than existing strains, but also NOT milder than the original variant of the virus that brought entire areas to their knees, such as Bergamo, after weeks of unhindered circulation.The reason we no longer see ICUs on their knees is because that we have changed, not the virus).

But, as we said earlier, these lines decrease somewhat over time (not for everyone at the same rate), which is why revaccination (for everyone, but especially the elderly) is the safest option for permanently reducing personal risk. package, that’s up to us. What is certain is that whenever SARS-COV2 sweeps through our community, either way, it will leave a serious legacy both in death (we still lose a large number of fellow citizens every week) and in silence. pushes even more people away. down the long-term pathways of disease.

I am personally concerned about the overall long-term impact of endemic viruses.

The main problem is that the world was not “convinced” that living with viruses is costly to our society as a whole (high economic cost, loss of health and quality of life). A big price that affects each of us and that we pay dearly, after all, with chronic diseases (autoimmune, cancerous, neurodegenerative diseases, etc.). These costs, which were already high before the pandemic, will certainly be significantly higher in the post-SARS2 era (how much more we will know in the future, but the signs are alarming).

“Can we, as communities, achieve a significant *sustainable* reduction in endemic airborne viral infections without compromising the freedoms and quality of life of citizens?” This should be the main question and request of all citizens (if they knew how much they themselves pay from our open symbiosis with viruses).

It is not easy to answer, especially when it comes to highly contagious viruses, and that is why the entire discussion must be conducted soberly and with respect for the opinion of the majority of experts we have. But we must, despite the high stakes, try. There are tools in our technology quiver that are unfortunately hardly used, such as systematic air purification and the widespread use of “free” diagnostic tests by the population. There are other technologies that could play a very important role, such as the development and widespread use of more “sterile” vaccines, but unfortunately they have been relatively abandoned due to a lack of serious funding (for example, intranasal vaccines).

But even if we had all these tools (sterile vaccines, lots of free on-demand tests, and installing air filters in all crowded places), would that be enough to get rid of endemic hoarseness once and for all? Yourself, probably not. Clearly, there must be broad citizen participation in these efforts. Public health is at stake for all of us, and the continued participation of as many people as possible is a necessary condition for its protection.

And the only way to achieve this is a better “education” in public health principles. That’s where we had to start, and it’s very sad that almost nothing has been done in our education systems for this. If we don’t start with this so that more and more people see the problem, then, unfortunately, all solutions will come out as coercions for no reason. We need the critical mass to be informed so that the necessary political pressure can be exerted in the future for the necessary changes.