As scorching summer temperatures drive Americans indoors and millions travel for vacations and family gatherings, COVID infections are rising again, U.S. health authorities warned.
Yes, COVID-19 cases are increasing across the United States in late June 2024.
Case counts are rising in 39 states, along with hospitalizations, deaths, and emergency room visits, and are not decreasing anywhere in the country, new data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows.
While the CDC no longer tracks COVID cases, it still estimates the virus’s spread using data on emergency department visits. Both COVID deaths and emergency room visits have increased in the past week, while hospitalizations rose by 25% from May 26 to June 1, according to the latest CDC data.
Several new COVID variants are likely contributing to the summer surge, said Dr. Dan Barouch, director of the Center for Virology and Vaccine Research at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston.
The three variants are descendants of JN.1, the version of the coronavirus that dominated this winter.
KP.2 became the dominant variant last month, and then KP.3 took over in early June. Along with a third variant that shares the same key mutations, KP.1.1, the group now accounts for about 63% of all COVID infections in the United States, CDC data shows.
Meanwhile, LB.1 accounts for another 17.5% of COVID infections. Experts said its rapid growth suggests it will likely become dominant soon.
Still, “it’s kind of the new kid on the block,” Barouch said. “Not much is known about it.”
A preprint study published this month, which has not yet been peer-reviewed, suggests that LB.1 is more infectious and may be better at evading protection from vaccines or prior infections.
“Assuming the preliminary data is accurate—that they are more immune-evasive and more infectious than KP.2 and KP.3—that’s a winning formula for infecting more people,” Russo noted.
In addition to the variants, experts said cases will likely continue to rise as people retreat indoors to escape the heat and gather to celebrate the Fourth of July.
Russo recommended that people who are vulnerable to infection and severe illness, or who are more likely to attend large parties or gatherings, consider getting the latest COVID vaccine.
He added that a monoclonal antibody drug called Pemgarda has been available since April for immunocompromised individuals. The antiviral drug Paxlovid can also reduce the likelihood of hospitalization or death.
As for young, healthy individuals, they can wait for the updated COVID vaccines expected to arrive this fall, experts said.
This month, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advised vaccine manufacturers to target the KP.2 variant. The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices will meet Thursday to decide who should receive those vaccines.
Resources for more information:
CDC: https://espanol.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
White House COVID-19 Plan: https://www.whitehouse.gov/es/plandelcovid/
American Red Cross: https://www.redcross.org/cruz-roja/nosotros/noticias-y-eventos/articulos-de-noticias/2024/aumentan-las-enfermedades-respiratorias-en-los-estados-unidos-lo-que-debe-hacer.html
No information should replace consultation with a doctor or other healthcare professional who can advise you based on your specific situation.
If you do not have health insurance and need to see a healthcare specialist, you can visit Dr. Carlos Arguello’s office in Port St. Lucie at 1803 SE Port St. Lucie Blvd. 772-337-3334
Image: cdc.gov
