OPINION: What you should know about the new COVID-19 variants – Red and Black

As I sit in class surrounded by coughing, sniffling and sneezing, my mind immediately runs through the possible illnesses that my fellow classmates at the University of Georgia may be spreading. Could it be coronavirus, strep throat, a common cold, influenza? My first instinct is to quickly use hand sanitizer and rub it in really well, sometimes even opting for a second sanitizing round just in case.

With the new year beginning, the season of sickness seems to be unrelenting. While students such as myself try their hardest to avoid getting sick right at the start of a fresh semester, it can seem impossible to avoid completely. However, its important to understand these different illnesses so that we can make the best of our college experience and prioritize not only our own health, but the health of our community.

Last year, there was a rise in hospitalizations due to new COVID-19 variants. According to the Center for Disease Control, the BA.2.86 variant may be more capable of causing an infection in those who have already had COVID-19 or received COVID-19 vaccines.

Andrea Garcia, the American Medical Association Vice President of Science, Medicine and Public Health, says that scientists are currently more concerned with this particular strain because of how many mutations it has, particularly in the spike protein, which our immune system recognizes to fight infections. As mutations accumulate, our body has a harder time detecting and protecting itself from invasion, overpowering existing immunity from vaccines and previous infections.

But, the CDCs current risk assessment suggests that there is no evidence to show that this particular variant is causing more severe illness. As of right now, there are not enough reported infections with this strain to accurately estimate the percentage of world-wide COVID infections caused by BA.2.86.

This winter, a new variant closely related to BA.2.86 has been brought into the spotlight: the JN.1 variant. In December, the CDC estimated that JN.1 made 15-29% of cases in the United States. The CDC also projects that cases will increase and that it is currently the fastest-growing variant. The quick spread and growth of this variant may suggest greater transmissibility or better immune evasion. However, there is no evidence that it poses an increased risk or threat to public health relative to any other variants.

In regard to the EG.5 variant, the World Health Organizations most recent risk evaluation suggests that this particular variant also carries additional mutations in the spike protein. Again, these unique mutations may allow the virus to evade immune responses acquired after vaccination or an infection.

Globally, EG.5 makes up 45.8% of sequences that are shared with Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System while also being categorized as the most prevalent variant of interest. In early August, the CDC reported an uptick of 14.3% in COVID-related hospitalizations. Yale Medicine Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Scott Roberts believes there is a strong possibility that this trend may be due to the new variant, which has a proven ability to bypass the immune defense previously established by vaccination or prior infection.

In addition, the CDC estimates that by the end of September, about 21.7% of COVID cases in the United States were caused by EG.5, a percentage that is the second highest rate of SARS-CoV-2 strains after HV.1 strains.

So, now that we know what we are fighting, we need to understand how to fight the new mutations. As of right now, the best way to protect oneself against these new variants is to follow similar preventative measures used against the older strains. Practicing hand hygiene, keeping distance from those who may be sick, staying hydrated, improving ventilation and wearing a mask in risky areas are the most basic but effective ways to prevent infection. New COVID-19 boosters and vaccines effectively protect against the more recent strains such as EG.5 and BA.2.86. Numerous local pharmacies such as CVS and MinuteClinic locations offer the newest COVID vaccines.Check out the locations closest to you!

Lastly, if you do catch COVID-19, treatments like Paxlovid are still effective against strains EG.5 and BA.2.86 in shortening the duration and severity of symptoms.

Listen up, Dawgs. It is our responsibility to take care of our own health and prevent the spread of disease across the UGA community. Simply washing our hands often, especially before and after meals, can make the biggest difference. We cannot let COVID-19 ruin our start to the semester. The more cautious we are this winter season, the greater our successes will be.

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OPINION: What you should know about the new COVID-19 variants - Red and Black