Will Covid-19 be considered just the flu? OPS clarifies this – Fox Sports

this pan american health organization (OPS) has several answers to frequently asked questions about Covid-19, four years after the first outbreak in Latin America, including what should be considered about the severity of the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Could Covid-19 be considered just a flu?

according to OPSrespiratory viruses, e.g. Coronavirus disease Influenza, or influenza, has the potential to cause serious damage to the human body, especially in vulnerable groups such as the elderly and those with chronic or pre-existing conditions.

Therefore, there is no way to consider Coronavirus disease Like the simple flu, in that it underestimates a disease with irreversible consequences. A major outbreak could overwhelm the health system, as it has in the past.

How many Covid-19 variants have been discovered?

“Since the emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, multiple variants of it have been discovered, starting with Alpha in late 2020, followed by Gamma and Delta, with a significant impact on public health. Subsequently, Ómicron emerged in late 2021, due to its spread Rapidly, it was classified as a variant of concern,” the agency said. OPS

in his report.

“Although the virus continues to evolve, no variants have been found to significantly increase severity or mortality. While there are several currently being monitored, such as JN.1, none so far have been shown to make them more aggressive or Characteristics of lethality.”

When was the first Covid-19 outbreak in Latin America?

On February 26, 2020, Brazil recorded its first confirmed case Coronavirus disease. Since the disease emerged in China, it has caused more than 774 million cases and 7 million deaths to date; 25% of cases have occurred in the Americas, and 43% of deaths have also occurred in the Americas, making it the continent with the highest death toll.