Europe braces as 'Frankenstein' COVID-19 variant spreads
COVID-19 hits Europe (Illustrative photo: Getty Images)
A new COVID-19 variant called “Frankenstein” is rapidly spreading across Europe, noted for its higher transmissibility and causing concern among medical professionals, according to SRF.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) reports that by early September, the new XFG coronavirus variant, unofficially dubbed “Frankenstein”, accounted for over 80% of newly registered COVID-19 cases on the continent, effectively becoming the dominant strain.
Infectious disease specialist Alessandro Diana, an expert at the InfoVac vaccination information platform, told Swiss television RTS that the new variant is a combination of two Omicron subvariants. He explained that people currently experiencing cold-like symptoms - sore throat, body aches, and runny nose - could very well be infected with this COVID-19 variant.
Despite its higher transmissibility, the XFG variant is not considered more dangerous than previous strains. Symptoms remain similar to a typical respiratory infection: runny nose, sore throat, muscle aches, and general malaise.
Diana reassures that existing vaccines remain effective against “Frankenstein.” However, vaccination is currently recommended primarily for high-risk groups - people over 65, those with chronic illnesses, and pregnant women.
“In public health, our main concern is the burden on the healthcare system. Currently, hospitals are not overwhelmed, and the situation is under control,” the expert emphasized.
Doctors also note that COVID-19 is increasingly taking on a seasonal pattern, similar to the flu. Vaccinations are now administered on a similar principle, focusing on protecting vulnerable populations during periods of seasonal outbreaks.
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