Just before the holidays, Belgium recorded its second highest peak ever. But infectious disease specialist Erika Vlieghe remains calm about it. «It’s true that a lot of germs have been circulating in recent weeks, including Covid, but all things considered it’s not that bad. Most of the patients suffered from severe colds. Fever also occurred at times, but fortunately the impact on hospitals and residential care centers remained limited. This suggests that the vaccines are still doing their job well.”
We have now reached the twelfth wave of corona, but Vlieghe is no longer keeping count. ‘After the omikron variant (the fifth wave, ed.) everyone lost track a bit. The question is also how useful it is to continue counting waves. We are in the aftermath of the corona pandemic.’
Yet there is talk of the new pyrola variant. What makes this variant so special that it deserves its own name?
Erika Vlieghe: It is a variant that has undergone quite a few mutations and therefore differs from its predecessors. We always view this with healthy suspicion, because mutations can make a virus more contagious, make people sicker, or can escape existing immunity. There is therefore some concern behind it. In recent years we have learned that anomalous viruses can suddenly become very dangerous. This variant currently appears to spread easily, but it also only makes people moderately ill. For the moment there is no reason to worry, although we will obviously continue to monitor the situation.
Is it true that pirola more often leads to diarrheal disorders?
Flights: Over the past three years we have noticed that the coronavirus can manifest itself in different ways. We have also seen in previous variants that people could suffer a lot from diarrhea. This is certainly not exclusive to the pirola variant.
Is it possible to have the flu and Covid at the same time?
Flights: In principle this is possible. When we examine respiratory infections, we often see that multiple viruses or bacteria are present at the same time, but this does not mean that the patient necessarily shows symptoms of all of these germs.
What can we do to protect ourselves?
Flights: Use our common sense. If you feel sick, stay home. Save those around you from the germs that made you sick. If you cough and sniffle, wear a mouth mask. Nobody likes a mask like that, but it prevents its spread. Continue to ventilate areas well and practice good hand hygiene.
Measles is on the rise in several European countries. In 2023, Belgium recorded 52 infections. In 2022 there were only eight and in 2021 there were seven. Why this sudden increase?
Flights: This increase did not happen suddenly. Even before the coronavirus pandemic, we saw outbreaks in various places in Europe. This has to do with decreasing vaccination and protection rates. Measles vaccination is not carried out with the same precision around the world and there is a lot of travel and migration. An epidemic often starts in population groups that are not or only partially vaccinated and then spreads to young adults who have not yet received their booster shots. The Department of Health has collected all the useful information on vaccinations on its website.
During the pandemic, coronavirus-related measures have not only kept Covid in line, but also other infectious diseases. During the same period, the number of measles cases also decreased. When normal life began again, those numbers increased again.
So is the post-coronavirus anti-vaccination movement just part of the problem?
Flights: That’s right, it’s a combination of several factors. But willingness to vaccinate has actually worsened since the coronavirus. This is dangerous, because measles is not just a cold, but a potentially life-threatening disease.
What are the main challenges for 2024?
Flights: The great challenges that we already faced before the coronavirus continue to exist: bacteria that become resistant to antibiotics and the germs that we bring with us from distant countries. But global warming and wars also pose a threat to our health. Because they force people to flee and often end up in small rooms, making it easier for infections to spread. This is why it is important to provide decent housing and good medical care to the most vulnerable population groups. We won’t get bored right away in 2024.
2023-12-30 04:00:54
#coronavirus #outbreaks #Europe