![COVID-19 is likely to become an endemic disease – what does that mean? [WE EXPLAIN]](https://healthy-food-near-me.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/covid-19-is-likely-to-become-an-endemic-disease-what-does-that-mean-we-explain-600x425.png)
In line with its mission, the Editorial Board of MedTvoiLokony makes every effort to provide reliable medical content supported by the latest scientific knowledge. The additional flag “Checked Content” indicates that the article has been reviewed by or written directly by a physician. This two-step verification: a medical journalist and a doctor allows us to provide the highest quality content in line with current medical knowledge.
Our commitment in this area has been appreciated, among others, by by the Association of Journalists for Health, which awarded the Editorial Board of MedTvoiLokony with the honorary title of the Great Educator.
We have known about the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, which causes COVID-19, for 10 months. While there are several theories about whether and how long the virus will stay in society, it is not entirely clear what its future is. Hans Heesterbreek, professor of theoretical epidemiology, believes that based on experience with other viruses, there is no reason to believe that SARS-CoV-2 will soon disappear. The more likely option is that it will be considered endemic. What does it mean?
- Eliminating SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus infection from the population is unlikely. There are many indications that COVID-19 will become an endemic disease
- If safe and effective vaccines can be developed and implemented, and effective treatments developed, we have a chance to control a pandemic. Everything indicates that the coronavirus will be present in our lives, just like other diseases
- For more up-to-date information on the coronavirus, please visit the TvoiLokony home page
With SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus infections rising again, it seems unlikely that the security measures currently available could do more than contain the spread of the disease. The exceptions are countries that can effectively isolate themselves from the outside world, but as we know, even New Zealand, which has successfully fought the spread of COVID-19 and has even declared itself a “coronavirus-free zone”, began to report again after a partial loosening new infections.
The fact that a huge number of people in the world are still susceptible to infection makes it the virus will continue to circulate in the population for a long time to come. Perhaps it will join a large and growing family of infectious diseases that are known to be endemic to the human population. What does it mean?
the constant incidence of a specific disease, e.g. an infectious disease, in a given area, in the number remaining at the same level for many years.
In the case of SARS-CoV-2, it is possible that the spread of infection will stabilize at a constant level so that it will be present in communities all the time, but there will be relatively few people infected.
The WHO talked about the fact that the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus may become an endemic virus in May during one of the press conferences. Dr. Michael Ryan, executive director of WHO in the field of health emergencies, explained that HIV is an endemic virus.
As Hans Heesterbeek, professor of theoretical epidemiology writes in an article published in IFL science, theoretically an infection becomes endemic if, on average, each sick person can infect another one, i.e. when the virus reproduction rate is 1. When the epidemic gains strength, the R-factor increases when transmission is blocked, the rate drops below 1. In practice, however, there are many patterns that can be observed in endemic diseases. There are those that can be at a low level throughout the year, others show periods of higher carry-over, that is, are seasonal. However, as long as there are enough people susceptible to the disease, it will spread more slowly or faster.
- Expert: the coronavirus will stay with us forever, vaccinations will not eliminate it
The coronavirus is likely to spread in populations even if certain locations reach the so-called population resistance, although it is still uncertain whether such a condition is possible. When enough people become immune to the disease, whether from disease or vaccination, transmission will slow down and new infections will decrease. This does not mean that the virus will completely disappear.
In addition to areas that will become resilient populations, there will also be many places where there will still be enough vulnerable people where transmission will accelerate. People-to-people interactions at regional and international level cannot be completely eliminated.
- SARS-CoV-2 Coronavirus Resistance. What do we know about her?
- How will our immunity to the coronavirus develop? Scientists envision four possible scenarios
- Resistance to COVID-19 is not permanent. The antibodies disappear quickly
- Pasteur Institute: resistance in 70% population will stop the epidemic
In diseases which produce persistent immunity after infection, every newborn child is susceptible to infection after the expiry of the maternal immunity. For this reason, childhood infections, such as measles, are endemic in many parts of the world where the birth rate is high and where it is difficult to get a vaccine against the disease.
For other infections, the disease of which only gives temporary immunity, people become susceptible again to the disease once that immunity wears off. Viruses or bacteria can invade the body again and can evade the immune response through mutations, making people resistant to the “old version” of the infection vulnerable to the new one. This is the case with the flu.
It is not known how the body will behave after contracting COVID-19. Many studies show that the body’s immune response is not as strong as we thought it would be and only lasts for a few months. In the case of the diseases mentioned above (measles and flu), we also have vaccines that protect against the pathogen. It is not known if and when an effective and safe COVID-19 vaccine will be developed.
How to deal with the fact that the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus may become one of the endemic viruses? It will all depend on how good the vaccines and treatments are. If they can protect people from the most severe effects of an infection, it will be manageable. COVID-19 will become one of the diseases we have already learned to live with, and it is likely that many of us will experience it during our lifetime.
If COVID-19 behaves like the flu, we may need annual updates to the vaccine. If it is similar to measles, childhood immunization is sufficient to immunize the body against the infection. It seems unlikely to eliminate the virus completely from society, a much more realistic scenario is that the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus will become endemic.
- The s are preparing a super vaccine. It is supposed to protect against flu and COVID-19 at the same time
- Kidney disease increases your risk of dying from COVID-19. Why?
- The bad news: The number of elderly people infected with the coronavirus is increasing in Europe
The content of the medTvoiLokony website is intended to improve, not replace, the contact between the Website User and their doctor. The website is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Before following the specialist knowledge, in particular medical advice, contained on our Website, you must consult a doctor. The Administrator does not bear any consequences resulting from the use of information contained on the Website. Do you need a medical consultation or an e-prescription? Go to halodoctor.pl, where you will get online help – quickly, safely and without leaving your home.