The spread of a new coronavirus variant, which has received the unofficial name "Cicada", is being recorded worldwide. It is being actively discussed in the media; however, cases of this strain have not yet been officially registered in Ukraine. Epidemiologist Diana Tsepak stated this in a comment to "Tvoe Misto".
COVID-19 has not been recorded in the Lviv region for two weeks now
As Diana Tsepak said, the situation in the Lviv region is currently calm:
According to her, there is no talk of the "Cicada" strain circulating in the region either:
"Cicada" is not a new virus, but a variant of "Omicron"
Despite the loud name, medics reassure: we are not talking about a new disease, but only a mutation of the coronavirus. According to the epidemiologist, the symptoms of this variant do not differ from those typical for COVID-19 or other ARVIs: fever, sore throat, runny nose, cough, and general weakness.
At the same time, experts emphasize: rapid tests from the pharmacy can show the presence of COVID-19, but they do not determine the specific strain. This requires special laboratory research at the state level.
Why this strain is being talked about so much
The spread of new variants is a natural process for viruses, the doctor explains. They are constantly mutating, but they do not always become more dangerous.
"Viruses change to be better transmitted from person to person," — she notes.
Who is at risk
As before, the most vulnerable remain: elderly people, children, people with chronic diseases, patients with cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, or obesity.
What to do at the first symptoms
Medics advise not to self-medicate and to follow basic rules:
- stay home when symptoms appear
- contact a family doctor
- if necessary, take a rapid test for COVID-19
"Antibiotics are not used for viral infections. They can only be prescribed in case of a secondary bacterial infection," — the doctor explains.
She also adds that COVID-19 is still transmitted via respiratory droplets, so in case of illness, one should limit contact with others.
Read also: By 2050, metabolic liver diseases could affect nearly 2 billion people. What are the reasons.
Vaccination remains relevant
Doctors recommend annual vaccination — for both the flu and COVID-19. In Ukraine, vaccinations against coronavirus can be done for free after a consultation with a family doctor.
Despite the fact that the vaccine does not guarantee full protection against infection, it helps reduce the risk of a severe course of the disease.
As a reminder, according to the World Health Organization, hundreds of millions of infection cases were recorded worldwide during the COVID-19 pandemic, and vaccination, according to researchers' estimates, helped save millions of lives and significantly reduced the risk of severe disease progression. At the same time, the virus continues to circulate as a seasonal respiratory infection, periodically causing local outbreaks in different countries.
