A summer season COVID surge is underway within the U.S., warns the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC) — so must you be involved?As of June 25, 2024, the CDC estimated that COVID-19 infections are “rising or possible rising” in 44 states and territories, in accordance with a information alert on its web site.Regardless of the rise in instances, hospitalizations and deaths stay low, the info exhibits.COVID VACCINE COMPANIES TOLD TO FOCUS ON KP.2 VARIANT FOR FALL SHOTS, PER FDA ANNOUNCEMENTGiven that the pandemic was declared formally over as of Could 5, 2023, public well being officers don’t gather the identical quantity of COVID information as they as soon as did.”However the information that we do have from the CDC, together with from monitoring wastewater, signifies that COVID-19 infections are rising in lots of locations within the U.S.,” Dr. Jay Varma, chief medical officer at SIGA Applied sciences, a pharmaceutical firm in New York Metropolis, instructed Fox Information Digital.READ ON THE FOX NEWS APPA summer season COVID surge is underway proper now within the U.S., warns the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC).Dr. Marc Siegel, doctor, medical professor of medication at NYU Langone Medical Middle and a Fox Information medical contributor, acknowledged that there is been an uptick in instances lately.CDC WARNS OF ‘DUAL MUTANT’ FLU STRAIN THAT COULD EVADE ANTIVIRAL DRUGS: ‘NEED TO CLOSELY MONITOR’”There was an upsurge in sure areas, together with California — fueled by the so-called FLiRT variants, KP.3, KP.2 and KP.1,” he instructed Fox Information Digital.”It may unfold to extra states.”COVID-19 infections are “rising or possible rising” in 44 states and territories, in accordance with a CDC information alert.CDC information exhibits that the KP.3 and KP.2 strains — each of that are subvariants of the extremely contagious JN.1 variant — presently account for over half of all new instances.Since COVID-19 emerged in 2020, scientists have realized that the virus has seasonal patterns, Varma stated, with predictable peaks in spring/early summer season and winter.”Winter peaks are straightforward to clarify — extra individuals spend time indoors, and there are adjustments within the local weather, together with relative humidity, that make it simpler for infections to unfold by the air,” Varma, who served because the New York Metropolis mayor’s senior adviser for public well being throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, instructed Fox Information Digital.COVID-FLU COMBO VACCINE SHOWS ‘POSITIVE’ RESULTS IN PHASE 3 TRIALS, MODERNA SAYS: A ‘TWO-FOR’ OPTIONIt’s not fairly as straightforward, nevertheless, to clarify the height throughout hotter climate.”It might be as a result of the virus evolves at a frequency that aligns with the spring/summer season — or there could possibly be different environmental components that we don’t perceive nicely,” Varma stated.CDC information exhibits that the KP.3 and KP.2 strains — each of that are subvariants of the extremely contagious JN.1 variant — account for greater than half of all new instances this summer season up to now.Siegel, nevertheless, doesn’t imagine that COVID is seasonal.”It’s a respiratory virus, and it spreads when individuals huddle shut collectively,” he instructed Fox Information Digital.”And like all respiratory viruses, it spreads additional in low humidity.”COVID VACCINE COMPANIES TOLD TO FOCUS ON KP.2 VARIANT FOR FALL SHOTS, PER FDA ANNOUNCEMENT”Having stated that, it has not proven itself to be seasonal, which means that it could possibly unfold in heat climate simply as nicely.”COVID’s subvariants (FLiRT) are “immunoevasive,” in accordance with Siegel, which suggests individuals can get them even when that they had prior immunity.To scale back the possibilities of catching COVID this summer season, Siegel stated the identical recommendation applies year-round.”In case you are sharing indoor air, equivalent to on an airplane or in a crowded area, carrying a high-quality masks can cut back your danger of getting contaminated,” one physician suggested.”In case you are sharing indoor air, equivalent to on an airplane or in a crowded area, carrying a high-quality masks can cut back your danger of getting contaminated,” he suggested.”When you’ve got any cough or chilly signs, together with what you suppose are allergy symptoms, it’s a good suggestion to take a speedy check for COVID-19.”A speedy check is an efficient solution to decide whether or not you are more likely to be infectious to different individuals, Siegel added.Varma agreed, noting that “being conscious and utilizing speedy testing when uncovered or sick helps.”For top-risk individuals who change into contaminated, Varma additionally recommends using Paxlovid, an antiviral remedy that may assist forestall extreme sickness.As of June 27, the CDC recommends that every one individuals 6 months of age and older get up to date 2024-2025 COVID vaccines after they change into obtainable in fall 2024.”I feel that is the precise recommendation,” Siegel stated.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER”Whereas we all know that the flu and COVID vaccines solely present partial safety, we all know these vaccines are extraordinarily secure and that they might result in fewer days of labor or faculty misplaced, fewer days of distress, a decrease danger of lengthy COVID, and a decrease danger of spreading an infection to different individuals who might have danger of hospitalization or dying,” he stated.As of June 27, the CDC recommends that every one individuals 6 months of age and older get up to date 2024-2025 COVID vaccines after they change into obtainable in fall 2024.Varma agreed, noting that the up to date vaccine will goal the brand new, prevalent subvariants.”Will probably be efficient and ought to be taken or extremely thought-about — particularly for high-risk teams and people most in danger, together with the aged,” he instructed Fox Information Digital.For extra Well being articles, go to www.foxnews/well being”If COVID continues to unfold, I might suggest the vaccine as certainly one of our efficient instruments for adults to lower severity and lengthy COVID signs.”He added, “For youthful individuals, it’s a matter of selection, however I proceed to love the vaccine’s effectiveness at reducing lengthy COVID danger.”Unique article supply: Amid summer season COVID surge warning from CDC, must you fear? Medical doctors weigh in