Persistent COVID-19 Infections That Last For Over a Month Are More Common Than We Thought! – The Weather Channel

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North India is suddenly witnessing a surge in COVID-19 cases. Delhi just reported its highest daily number of cases since May 2023, with 63 infections recorded in the last 24 hours. This rise in cases coincides with an uptick in infections being observed in other northern states like Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar. While the absolute numbers aren't high, the actual case count could be significantly higher.

However, with COVID-19 likely becoming endemic, experts warn that occasional surges are to be expected. And while it currently remains unknown which specific strain of SARS-CoV-2 is driving the rise in cases, we have some new information about the potential consequences of persistent COVID-19 infections in the general population.

A new study published in Nature suggests that a surprisingly high number of infections potentially between one in a thousand to one in two hundred can last for a month or longer, raising concerns about their role in long COVID and variant development.

Previously, prolonged COVID-19 cases were primarily observed in immunocompromised individuals and thought to be a potential source of new variants. This Oxford study, utilising data from the UK's extensive COVID-19 Infection Survey, provides the first large-scale look at persistent infections in the general population.

Researchers analysed data from over 90,000 participants and identified a significant link between persistent infections and long COVID. Individuals with persistent infections were 55% more likely to report long COVID symptoms compared to those with typical infections. While the exact cause of Long COVID remains unclear, this finding suggests a potential connection.

Further, they found 381 individuals among the participants who tested positive for the same variant for over a month. Worryingly, some of these persistent infections involved viral strains that had already disappeared from circulation.

The study revealed that persistent infections can harbour a high number of mutations, potentially leading to new variants. However, this doesn't occur in all cases.

These new findings highlight the importance of ongoing community-based surveillance for COVID-19. This not only helps track the emergence of new variants but also provides valuable insights into the long-term effects of the virus on human health.

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Persistent COVID-19 Infections That Last For Over a Month Are More Common Than We Thought! - The Weather Channel