WHO raises alarm over COVID-19 changing

Notwithstanding the official declaration of the conclusion of the pandemic, the presence of the respiratory virus known as SARS-CoV-2, persists within the global virulent respiratory virus landscape, posing a substantial threat to global public health. The World Health Organisation (WHO) asserts that the virus continues to circulate on a global scale, resulting in illness, death, and the manifestation of post-virus syndromes. Furthermore, the viral strain exhibits continuous evolutionary patterns, manifesting new variants, for instance, the XEC variant, which presently has the widest global propagation. Other variants are attracting some attention, albeit to a lesser extent. These include LP.8.1, NP.1, and LF.7.2, which display mutations that could give them a competitive advantage over XEC, particularly concerning immune escape ability. It is therefore essential to maintain constant monitoring through technical groups, whose remit is to oversee the evolution of variants and their impact on public health. The WHO has reiterated the importance of vaccination in the ongoing efforts to combat the global pandemic. While the composition of the vaccine is being updated, the WHO has urged health authorities to implement vaccination programs in anticipation of new formulations.