2023-08-11 16:25:55
COVID-19: Resurgence of Epidemic Sparks Concern in France and Other Countries
Amidst the peak of summer, concerns about the COVID-19 epidemic are resurfacing in France and several other countries as the number of infections begins to rise. While the situation has not reached alarming levels, experts are urging vigilance.
Reports of resurgence have also emerged from the United States, Britain, India, and Japan. The French population, which had seemingly overcome the SARS-CoV-2 virus after enduring it for over three years, now finds itself grappling with its return. Indications of its resurgence are becoming apparent.
Data from Sante publique France reveals that visits to emergency departments with suspected COVID-19 cases increased by 31 percent in the week from July 31 to August 6, compared to the previous week. A total of 920 cases were recorded during this period. The Public Health Agency stated that “the numbers remain moderate,” as previous epidemic waves during the summer or winter of 2022 saw over four thousand cases per week.
Santé Public France also reported that medical examinations for suspected COVID-19 infections have been increasing in all age groups. In the first week of August, there were over 1,500 examinations, marking an 84 percent increase in just one week.
The World Health Organization (WHO) issued a statement on Friday stating that the number of detected COVID-19 cases worldwide has increased by eighty percent in a month. Between July 10 and August 6, an additional one and a half million cases were reported globally. In May, the WHO downgraded the epidemic from a global health emergency, but the organization notes that the virus continues to spread, mutate, and cause fatalities.
The EG.5 mutant, or “Eris,” has become the most closely monitored variant due to its potential involvement in the resurgence of the epidemic. This variant, stemming from the Omicron strain of the XBB dynasty, appears to be more transmissible and capable of evading immune defenses due to new genetic mutations. According to the WHO, the A-G5 variant accounted for more than 17 percent of global COVID-19 infections detected in mid-July.
Antoine Flahault, director of the Institute of Global Health at the University of Geneva, stated that EG.5 has been detected in India as well as other Asian countries, North America, and Europe, where it is replacing previous dominant strains. The available evidence does not currently suggest that EG.5 poses an additional public health risk compared to other Omicron variants, according to the WHO. However, Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized the ongoing risk of more dangerous mutants emerging, resulting in a sudden increase in infections and fatalities.
Monitoring the evolution of the epidemic has further complications due to decreased testing and discontinuation of follow-up measures. Flahault highlighted the global blurriness of the epidemiological situation and called for the redeployment of reliable health systems to monitor COVID-19. He particularly emphasized the need for wastewater analysis in Europe.
Although the impact of COVID-19 has diminished significantly over time and waves, thanks to high levels of acquired immunity through vaccination and/or previous infection, it has not disappeared entirely. Flahault raised the question of whether immunocompromised individuals and the elderly should undergo testing even with mild symptoms. This would enable early and effective antiviral treatments, reducing the risk of severe forms of the disease. Immunization remains crucial, and the WHO has urged intensified efforts to increase vaccination rates. While COVID-19 vaccines lose their efficacy against infections over time, they continue to provide protection against severe forms of the disease.
In response to new variants, pharmaceutical companies Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, and Novavax are preparing vaccines targeting the XBB strain, as recommended by the WHO in the spring. Many countries, including France, are planning vaccination campaigns that will focus on the most vulnerable groups in conjunction with influenza campaigns in the coming fall.]
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