新年伊始,隨著奧密克戎變異毒株的傳播,美國的新冠感染率和住院率持續(xù)上升,目前奧密克戎變異毒株已經(jīng)取代德爾塔變異毒株成為美國新冠疫情的主要病毒株。
1月5日,白宮官員表示,奧密克戎變異毒株導(dǎo)致的新冠疫情高峰尚未到來,并警告未來幾周將“充滿挑戰(zhàn)性”。
雖然我們對奧密克戎變異毒株仍然有許多信息不得而知,但有專家總結(jié)了它與之前出現(xiàn)的變異毒株的區(qū)別。
奧密克戎患者有哪些癥狀?
自新冠疫情爆發(fā)以來,新冠肺炎的癥狀已經(jīng)有充分證據(jù)。美國疾病控制與預(yù)防中心(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)表示,從輕癥到重癥新冠患者出現(xiàn)了各種癥狀,其中最常見的癥狀包括咳嗽、流涕、發(fā)燒、頭痛和疲勞等。
在2021年9月德爾塔變異毒株最嚴重的時期,患者的癥狀與美國爆發(fā)的初始新冠病毒株感染者的癥狀類似。
自2021年12月奧密克戎變異毒株席卷美國以來,在患者和健康專家中廣泛流傳這種變異毒株會產(chǎn)生一些不同癥狀的傳聞。
健康科學(xué)研究公司Zoe在英國統(tǒng)計的數(shù)據(jù)顯示,與之前的病毒株相比,發(fā)燒和咳嗽等癥狀在奧密克戎患者中并不常見,奧密克戎患者更常見的癥狀包括流涕、打噴嚏、頭痛和疲勞等。
據(jù)妙佑醫(yī)療國際(Mayo Clinic)表示,最近,一名醫(yī)生表示他似乎發(fā)現(xiàn)部分奧密克戎患者出現(xiàn)了一種新癥狀:盜汗。患者會反復(fù)嚴重出汗,可能會濕透衣服和床單。
位于美國華盛頓州埃德蒙茲的一名急診室醫(yī)生、Vituity公司的首席醫(yī)療官格雷格·米勒對《財富》雜志表示,與德爾塔和之前出現(xiàn)的其他病毒株的感染者相比,奧密克戎患者“失去嗅覺的可能性較低”。Vituity是一家由醫(yī)生創(chuàng)建的醫(yī)療保健公司,專門從事急性護理創(chuàng)新。
在最早發(fā)現(xiàn)奧密克戎變異毒株的南非進行的早期研究發(fā)現(xiàn),總體上而言,奧密克戎患者的癥狀嚴重程度低于德爾塔和之前出現(xiàn)的其他病毒株。米勒表示,這可能是因為“有證據(jù)證明奧密克戎變異毒株不太可能入侵肺部組織”,因此“肺炎癥狀較輕,病情并不嚴重”。
美國知名傳染病專家安東尼·福奇博士在1月5日引用了近期奧密克戎對老鼠和倉鼠的影響等相關(guān)研究,進一步證實了這種觀點。福奇在白宮新聞發(fā)布會上稱:“研究證明,奧密克戎變異毒株在上呼吸道和支氣管中活躍增殖,但在肺部增殖較慢。”
然而,世界衛(wèi)生組織(World Health Organization)的臨床管理負責人珍妮特·迪亞茲于上周表示,雖然奧密克戎變異毒株的嚴重程度較低,但不應(yīng)該將其視為一種“溫和的”變異株。
接觸之后多久會出現(xiàn)癥狀?
雖然有關(guān)奧密克戎變異毒株仍然有許多信息不得而知,但隨著感染者越來越多,專家們開始對它有更多的了解。一個重要的觀察結(jié)果是,接觸這種變異株的患者似乎會更快出現(xiàn)癥狀。
德爾塔變異毒株在一般人群中的潛伏期約為四天,原始變異毒株的潛伏期約為五天。
米勒說:“感染德爾塔變異毒株的患者可能在感染后四至五天才會出現(xiàn)癥狀,但奧密克戎患者可能在感染后兩至三天就出現(xiàn)癥狀。”
最近幾周有關(guān)奧密克戎變異毒株的多項研究顯示,患者從感染到出現(xiàn)癥狀之間的時間約為三天。
奧密克戎的傳染力多強?
美國疾病控制與預(yù)防中心的報告顯示,由于奧密克戎變異毒株與之前出現(xiàn)的病毒株相比傳染力更強,因此已經(jīng)打破了美國每日新增陽性病例紀錄。
哥本哈根大學(xué)(University of Copenhagen)、丹麥統(tǒng)計局(Statistics Denmark)和丹麥國家血清研究所(Statens Serum Institut)最近的一項研究顯示,現(xiàn)有新冠疫苗對奧密克戎變異毒株的效果遠低于預(yù)防德爾塔變異毒株的效果,這是奧密克戎變異毒株傳染力更強的原因之一。
該項研究發(fā)現(xiàn),奧密克戎變異毒株在已接種新冠疫苗的人群中的傳染力是德爾塔變異毒株的2.7倍至3.7倍。
不過有健康專家表示,雖然奧密克戎變異毒株的傳染力更強,但盡管病例數(shù)持續(xù)攀升,其導(dǎo)致的重癥患者和住院治療人數(shù)卻少于其他病毒株。這在一定程度上是因為美國有更高比例的人口接種了新冠疫苗,面對新型變異毒株,人們做好了更充分的準備。
約翰斯·霍普金斯醫(yī)院(Johns Hopkins Hospital)的肺病與重癥監(jiān)護醫(yī)師、約翰斯·霍普金斯大學(xué)(Johns Hopkins University)的醫(yī)學(xué)副教授威廉·切克利博士告訴《財富》雜志:“之所以奧密克戎變異毒株導(dǎo)致的住院治療和死亡人數(shù)減少,部分原因是我們已經(jīng)成功地為大部分人接種了新冠疫苗和/或加強針。”
他還表示:“對于未接種新冠疫苗的人群,奧密克戎變異毒株帶來的風險與德爾塔或之前出現(xiàn)的其他變異毒株的風險相當。”(財富中文網(wǎng))
翻譯:劉進龍
審校:汪皓
新年伊始,隨著奧密克戎變異毒株的傳播,美國的新冠感染率和住院率持續(xù)上升,目前奧密克戎變異毒株已經(jīng)取代德爾塔變異毒株成為美國新冠疫情的主要病毒株。
1月5日,白宮官員表示,奧密克戎變異毒株導(dǎo)致的新冠疫情高峰尚未到來,并警告未來幾周將“充滿挑戰(zhàn)性”。
雖然我們對奧密克戎變異毒株仍然有許多信息不得而知,但有專家總結(jié)了它與之前出現(xiàn)的變異毒株的區(qū)別。
奧密克戎患者有哪些癥狀?
自新冠疫情爆發(fā)以來,新冠肺炎的癥狀已經(jīng)有充分證據(jù)。美國疾病控制與預(yù)防中心(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)表示,從輕癥到重癥新冠患者出現(xiàn)了各種癥狀,其中最常見的癥狀包括咳嗽、流涕、發(fā)燒、頭痛和疲勞等。
在2021年9月德爾塔變異毒株最嚴重的時期,患者的癥狀與美國爆發(fā)的初始新冠病毒株感染者的癥狀類似。
自2021年12月奧密克戎變異毒株席卷美國以來,在患者和健康專家中廣泛流傳這種變異毒株會產(chǎn)生一些不同癥狀的傳聞。
健康科學(xué)研究公司Zoe在英國統(tǒng)計的數(shù)據(jù)顯示,與之前的病毒株相比,發(fā)燒和咳嗽等癥狀在奧密克戎患者中并不常見,奧密克戎患者更常見的癥狀包括流涕、打噴嚏、頭痛和疲勞等。
據(jù)妙佑醫(yī)療國際(Mayo Clinic)表示,最近,一名醫(yī)生表示他似乎發(fā)現(xiàn)部分奧密克戎患者出現(xiàn)了一種新癥狀:盜汗。患者會反復(fù)嚴重出汗,可能會濕透衣服和床單。
位于美國華盛頓州埃德蒙茲的一名急診室醫(yī)生、Vituity公司的首席醫(yī)療官格雷格·米勒對《財富》雜志表示,與德爾塔和之前出現(xiàn)的其他病毒株的感染者相比,奧密克戎患者“失去嗅覺的可能性較低”。Vituity是一家由醫(yī)生創(chuàng)建的醫(yī)療保健公司,專門從事急性護理創(chuàng)新。
在最早發(fā)現(xiàn)奧密克戎變異毒株的南非進行的早期研究發(fā)現(xiàn),總體上而言,奧密克戎患者的癥狀嚴重程度低于德爾塔和之前出現(xiàn)的其他病毒株。米勒表示,這可能是因為“有證據(jù)證明奧密克戎變異毒株不太可能入侵肺部組織”,因此“肺炎癥狀較輕,病情并不嚴重”。
美國知名傳染病專家安東尼·福奇博士在1月5日引用了近期奧密克戎對老鼠和倉鼠的影響等相關(guān)研究,進一步證實了這種觀點。福奇在白宮新聞發(fā)布會上稱:“研究證明,奧密克戎變異毒株在上呼吸道和支氣管中活躍增殖,但在肺部增殖較慢。”
然而,世界衛(wèi)生組織(World Health Organization)的臨床管理負責人珍妮特·迪亞茲于上周表示,雖然奧密克戎變異毒株的嚴重程度較低,但不應(yīng)該將其視為一種“溫和的”變異株。
接觸之后多久會出現(xiàn)癥狀?
雖然有關(guān)奧密克戎變異毒株仍然有許多信息不得而知,但隨著感染者越來越多,專家們開始對它有更多的了解。一個重要的觀察結(jié)果是,接觸這種變異株的患者似乎會更快出現(xiàn)癥狀。
德爾塔變異毒株在一般人群中的潛伏期約為四天,原始變異毒株的潛伏期約為五天。
米勒說:“感染德爾塔變異毒株的患者可能在感染后四至五天才會出現(xiàn)癥狀,但奧密克戎患者可能在感染后兩至三天就出現(xiàn)癥狀。”
最近幾周有關(guān)奧密克戎變異毒株的多項研究顯示,患者從感染到出現(xiàn)癥狀之間的時間約為三天。
奧密克戎的傳染力多強?
美國疾病控制與預(yù)防中心的報告顯示,由于奧密克戎變異毒株與之前出現(xiàn)的病毒株相比傳染力更強,因此已經(jīng)打破了美國每日新增陽性病例紀錄。
哥本哈根大學(xué)(University of Copenhagen)、丹麥統(tǒng)計局(Statistics Denmark)和丹麥國家血清研究所(Statens Serum Institut)最近的一項研究顯示,現(xiàn)有新冠疫苗對奧密克戎變異毒株的效果遠低于預(yù)防德爾塔變異毒株的效果,這是奧密克戎變異毒株傳染力更強的原因之一。
該項研究發(fā)現(xiàn),奧密克戎變異毒株在已接種新冠疫苗的人群中的傳染力是德爾塔變異毒株的2.7倍至3.7倍。
不過有健康專家表示,雖然奧密克戎變異毒株的傳染力更強,但盡管病例數(shù)持續(xù)攀升,其導(dǎo)致的重癥患者和住院治療人數(shù)卻少于其他病毒株。這在一定程度上是因為美國有更高比例的人口接種了新冠疫苗,面對新型變異毒株,人們做好了更充分的準備。
約翰斯·霍普金斯醫(yī)院(Johns Hopkins Hospital)的肺病與重癥監(jiān)護醫(yī)師、約翰斯·霍普金斯大學(xué)(Johns Hopkins University)的醫(yī)學(xué)副教授威廉·切克利博士告訴《財富》雜志:“之所以奧密克戎變異毒株導(dǎo)致的住院治療和死亡人數(shù)減少,部分原因是我們已經(jīng)成功地為大部分人接種了新冠疫苗和/或加強針。”
他還表示:“對于未接種新冠疫苗的人群,奧密克戎變異毒株帶來的風險與德爾塔或之前出現(xiàn)的其他變異毒株的風險相當。”(財富中文網(wǎng))
翻譯:劉進龍
審校:汪皓
COVID-19 infections and hospitalization rates have continued to surge in the new year thanks to the Omicron variant, which has now replaced the Delta variant as the dominant strain in the U.S.
On January 5, White House officials said that Omicron’s peak is likely still ahead of us, warning that the coming weeks will be “challenging.”
And while there are still many unknowns about the Omicron variant, here’s how experts say it’s different from previous variants.
What are Omicron’s symptoms?
Signs of COVID-19 have been well documented since the pandemic began. While people with COVID-19 have reported a wide range of symptoms—ranging from mild to severe—some of the most common ones include a cough, runny nose, fever, headache, and fatigue, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Throughout Delta’s peak in September, symptoms of that variant appeared to be similar to those of the initial strain of coronavirus that hit the U.S.
Since Omicron began sweeping through the U.S. in December 2021, anecdotal reports of the variant producing some distinct symptoms have circulated among patients and health experts.
Fever and cough are less prevalent in Omicron cases versus previous strains, according to data from the U.K. conducted by Zoe, a health science research firm, and more common Omicron symptoms include runny nose, sneezing, headaches, and fatigue.
And recently, a doctor noted that anecdotally he was seeing a new symptom among some Omicron patients: night sweats, which are repeated episodes of extreme perspiration that can soak your clothes and sheets, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Unlike patients with Delta and other previous COVID strains, those with Omicron “are less likely to lose a sense of smell,” Gregg Miller, an emergency room doctor in Edmonds, Wash., and chief medical officer at Vituity, a physician-owned health care company that specializes in acute care innovation, told Fortune.
Symptoms of Omicron overall tend to be less severe than those of Delta and previous strains, according to early research from South Africa, where the variant was first detected. This may be because “there’s evidence out there that it is less likely to invade your lung tissue,” which “l(fā)eads to less pneumonia and less severe disease,” Miller noted.
This was reinforced by Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, on January 5, citing recent studies of Omicron’s effect on mice and hamsters. “It was shown that the virus of Omicron proliferates very well in the upper airway and bronchi, but actually very poorly in the lungs,” Fauci said at a White House press conference.
However, World Health Organization official Janet Diaz, the agency’s clinical management lead, noted this week that although the variant may be less severe, Omicron should not be considered “mild.”
If I’m exposed, when will I get sick?
While much is still unknown about Omicron, experts are beginning to understand more about the variant as it continues to infect more people. One of the key observations is that people who are exposed to the strain appear to get sick more quickly.
Delta’s incubation period was about four days, and the original variant had an incubation period of about five days, across the general population.
“Whereas with Delta, patients maybe wouldn’t develop symptoms until four or five days after infection, with Omicron, [patients] maybe are developing symptoms within two to three days after infection,” Miller said.
Several studies of Omicron that have come out in recent weeks suggest it takes the variant about three days to develop symptoms after exposure.
How transmissible is Omicron?
The Omicron variant has managed to break records for daily positive cases in the U.S. owing to its high transmissibility compared with previous strains, according to reports from the CDC.
This is in part because Omicron is far better at circumventing the current vaccines than the Delta variant, according to a recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Copenhagen, Statistics Denmark, and Statens Serum Institut (SSI).
According to the study, Omicron was found to be 2.7 to 3.7 times as infectious as the Delta variant among vaccinated people.
But health experts say that despite its high rate of transmissibility in comparison with other strains, Omicron is causing fewer severe cases and hospitalizations even as case numbers continue to soar. This is in part because it is hitting a population that is better prepared to battle new strains, as a larger percentage of Americans are vaccinated against the coronavirus.
“Part of the reason we are seeing these reductions in hospitalizations and deaths from Omicron is we’ve already managed to get a large proportion of the population vaccinated and/or boosted,” Dr. William Checkley, a pulmonary and critical care physician at the Johns Hopkins Hospital and associate professor of medicine at Johns Hopkins University, told Fortune.
“For an unvaccinated person, the Omicron variant poses a risk just like Delta or the early variants prior to Delta,” he added.