Just when people thought their lives were back to normal, COVID-19 is back for yet another world tour. This time with a new variant nicknamed “Pirola.”
What is known about COVID-19 is that it can mutate into increasingly aggressive forms. The mutations affect how the virus reacts to the vaccines, how contagious it is and how it affects the people that catch it.
The Pirola variant stands out from the rest because it has evolved into over thirty mutations compared to Omicron, which infected a great number of the population during 2021. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) risk assessment, prior COVID-19 vaccines do not provide an adequate immunity response to this variant.
In its early stages, Pirola cases have been detected in areas like Denmark, Israel, South Africa, the U.K. and the U.S.
Freshman social work major, Katie Winters, stated, “My teacher had to inform us on the COVID-19 protocols because students in my classes kept testing positive.”
Supervisor for Health Services and Nurse Practitioner, Katherine Mueller, gave insight on ways students can lower the risk of catching the virus.
“I recommend frequent hand washing to prevent the spread of all illnesses, including COVID-19,” said Mueller. “Disinfecting frequently used surfaces can also help.”
Mueller went on to explain that students should have a plan in place in case their roomate gets sick.
With that in mind, updated vaccines are now available at Walgreens and CVS, and are said to be helpful in their ability to reduce severe sickness and hospitalization in case of infection. Additionally, taking rapid COVID-19 tests, which are in stock at the Lewis Student Wellness Center, can detect the mutated virus.
Moving forward, the severity of Pirola and how it affects the nation is still unknown, but as of now experts are doing their research to see what the next possible steps are.
“While there is an uptick in cases at this time, we are in a better place than ever before in the pandemic,” said Mueller. “We now have access to safe and effective vaccines, and treatments like the antiviral Paxlovid. We know more about COVID-19 now than ever before and have greater levels of natural immunity from prior infection and vaccine-induced immunity¨.
As medical professionals continue to keep a lookout on the Pirola virus, it is helpful for students and staff to take personal precautions to protect themselves from getting sick. The weather is changing and fall and winter are times of the year when COVID-19 cases often rise.
Photo Credits: Alexis Pragides
