United States: The COVID-19 infection has been fading away across the United States, but another respiratory illness linked to COVID-19 has been grappling with Americans. As per the latest report shared by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 17.6 million US citizens have been suffering from Long COVID.
The surge has been reported by health experts after the health agency announced that the COVID-19 isolation guidelines will be eased. Accordingly, this decision has divided the experts into different opinions, according to gavi.org.
At what percentage does Long COVID now stand in the US?
According to the official data, the percentage of Americans suffering from long COVID is 6.8 percent, which was 5.3 percent in October 2023. The experts have outlined that this surge has been the second-largest uptick of infections across the US during the winter.
As per the World Health Organization, roughly one in every five individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2 might progress to experiencing Prolonged COVID symptoms. Recent data from the CDC released just a month ago, suggests that contracting COVID-19 elevates the likelihood of individuals developing persistent fatigue fourfold.
The percentage of adults in the United States currently grappling with Prolonged COVID has not reached such levels since November 2022. Globally, an estimated 65 million people are believed to be affected by Prolonged COVID, although this figure is likely an underestimation, as per gavi.org.
According to the World Health Organization, approximately one in five individuals with SARS-CoV-2 infection may experience Prolonged COVID symptoms. Furthermore, recent CDC data has indicated that contracting COVID-19 increases the risk of individuals developing chronic fatigue by a factor of four.
The manifestations of Prolonged COVID are diverse, encompassing cognitive impairment, melancholia, cognitive decline, sleeplessness, myalgia, and exhaustion. Various theories have been postulated regarding the biological mechanisms behind these symptoms, ranging from immune system dysregulation to neurological malfunction. Presently, evidence is emerging to substantiate some of these hypotheses and elucidate the symptoms of Prolonged COVID.
Despite this, there is currently neither a definitive diagnostic test nor treatment available, leaving many individuals afflicted by this condition to receive minimal assistance, if any, as their lives are either put on indefinite pause or tragically dismantled by the ailment.
While Prolonged COVID patients are enduring suffering on a global scale, those residing in high-income nations are likely to have access to some form of healthcare. Conversely, the situation is notably graver in low- and middle-income countries, gavi.org mentioned.
While addressing the concern, the health expert who coordinated a study related to Long COVID in Bolivia, Dr Caroline Hilari, mentioned, “I think the fact that Long COVID has not been in the media here is basically because we have more deadly diseases. Just recently, we’ve had kids dying of dengue and scorpion stings. When people die, that gets into the media. But chronic, disabling conditions do not – and maybe that’s the cruelty of being in a less developed country.”