The first death from COVID-19’s new variation, Arcturus, has been confirmed in Thailand, the health officials said on Friday, amid an increase in cases around the world. The viral strain, which is estimated to be 1.2 times more contagious than the previous significant subvariant, claimed the life of an old man who shall remain nameless.
The dead was a foreign national who also had underlying medical issues, according to Dr. Supakit Sirilak, director-general of the Medical Sciences Department.
“The deceased was an elderly immigrant with pre-existing medical issues. Therefore, it’s possible that his passing didn’t directly represent how severe this subvariant was, but rather how it affected other risk factors, according to Dr. Sirilak.
When compared to the prior week, the number of patients admitted to hospitals nationwide increased by over 2.5 times between April 9 and April 15.
Thai health authorities have since released a warning regarding the new subvariant and asked the general public to exercise cautious and behave in a Covid-appropriate manner. A quick history of Arcturus
Notably, Arcturus was discovered in India originally. At least 24 different nations have already reported finding the extremely contagious Covid strain. The variant is a topic of discussion but not a source of worry, according to experts.
It’s been going around for a while. Although neither the severity of the disease nor the people have changed, these systems are still in place. According to lab tests, it contains an extra mutation in the spike protein, which may boost virulence and infectivity, said Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO’s technical lead for Covid, last month.
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According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the new strain is second only to the Omicron variation in the US in terms of coronavirus cases, accounting for about 7% of all cases.
Experts claim that the symptoms brought on by Arcturus are remarkably similar to those brought on by its earlier forms. Conjunctivitis, or inflammation of the outer layer of the eye, is one of the distinct symptoms that the virus frequently causes in the infected person.
How can you defend against Arcturus?
It is not necessary to take any unusual precautions in order to safeguard oneself from the novel strain. Keeping up with vaccines and booster doses, using a mask, avoiding close contact with others, cleaning your hands, and making an effort to spend time outside or in well-ventilated environments are some of the most crucial precautions.
