While the news related to Covid-19 seemed somewhat “sleepy”, especially in Europe, concern arises again in Asia, after the appearance of a new variant of the coronavirus, called “Arcturus” and belonging to the Omicron galaxy. Besides its spectacular transmissibility and the rise in cases that it provokes, particularly in India, the experts are alarmed by its ability to infect children, with unprecedented symptoms.
High fever, cough and… conjunctivitis!
This variant is responsible for a pic d’infections in Inde, which has prompted new restrictions to be put in place to stop its spread, including reintroducing the wearing of masks in certain places. In the country, reported figures show infections at their highest for 8 monthswith sometimes increases of 30 to 40% in contamination in 24 hourswhile the variant was only detected for the first time at the end of January.
2/2 – The WHO follows the spread of this new variant of Omicron as closely as possible, which is not easy, everyone having largely let their guard down on their health watch. 25 countries have already identified this variant which does not seem more severe at present than the previous ones. pic.twitter.com/UI0N4uv4LW
— Antoine FLAHAULT (@FLAHAULT) April 13, 2023
Indian experts seem particularly concerned, because in addition to the dramatic increase in infections, Arcturus has unique symptoms in children : a pediatrician, Vipin Vashishtha, former head of the Indian Academy of Pediatrics vaccination committee, even speaks ofand emerging “infantile phenotype” for this variant. Besides, the increase in contamination seems even greater among children according to some doctors.
THE symptoms caused by Arcturus in children include high fever, cough and above all, the main novelty, very itchy, itchy conjunctivitis in the eye. Dr. Vashishtha points out that some babies he treats for this variant have, in addition to the classic symptoms, “a non-purulent conjunctivitis never seen in previous waves“. Previously, this eye infection, also called “pink eye”, recognizable by a red eye, swelling and irritation, had only been reported as a “rare” symptom of Covid. In adults, on the other hand, the symptoms of Arcturus resemble those of the fluwith a runny nose, sore throat and cough.
The return of the vaccine?
Arcturus, sous-variant d’Omicronscientifically named XBB.1.16, is a recombinant of two other BA.2 subvariants, but it spreads 1.17 to 1.27 times faster than these. In addition to India, it has already been detected in more than 20 countries including Singapore, Australia, United Kingdom, United States and France (with about ten cases in France). Researchers in Nebraska have identified the virus in the tear film of the eye of some patients, which could explain the appearance of conjunctivitis as a new symptom.
Update on Omicron XBB.1.16 provided by @WHO‘s @mvankerkhove pic.twitter.com/k5IcvbAjMb
— Mrigank Shail, MD (@mrigankshail) April 3, 2023
The WHO has in any case classified Arcturus as “variant of interest”, while conceding that it had already been in circulation for a few months. Maria Van Kerhkove, technical director of the organization, said the experts had no no change in disease severityeven if “an additional mutation in the spike protein” appears to show increased infectivity.
However, a concern arises: Arcturus appears to be resistant to antibodies directed against other variants of Covid-19which raises questions about its immune escape potential. Will previous infections and doses of vaccine already instilled be effective? Nobody knows for now… In any case, the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer, the Serum Institute of India, is already starting to increase production as cases rise in India, to respond to the request. To be continued…
