The first cases of the new Arcturus Covid variant has been found in Ireland amid growing concern about its rapid spread.
Irish health officials have confirmed three cases of the strain, which is known as Omicron XBB.1.16. The latest data from Ireland’s Health Protection Surveillance Centre shows that the cases were reported before April 8, 2023.
The Arcturus Covid variant, which was first identified on January 23 this year, has caught the attention of experts around the world. So far, it has been detected in at least 28 countries. Arcturus has been classified as a ‘variant of interest’ by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).
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The World Health Organisation's (WHO) technical lead for Covid response Maria Van Kerkhove said: "This is one to watch. We're monitoring it because it has potential changes that we need to keep a good eye out on."
In the UK, five people have died with Arcturus. Data from the UK Health and Security Agency shows at least 135 cases of Arcturus have been confirmed there, including two in the North. India has seen the biggest surge, prompting parts of the country to reintroduce face mask rules.
Along with the usual Covid symptoms of fever and coughs, some infected people in India have also reported suffering from "itchy" conjunctivitis or pinkeye. Indian paediatrician Vipn M. Vashishtha, also a member of the WHO's Vaccine Safety Net programme, said youngsters were presenting with a high fever, cold and cough, and "itchy conjunctivitis" with "sticky eyes".
Earlier this month he wrote on Twitter: “For the last two days, have started getting paediatric Covid cases once again after a gap of six months! An infantile phenotype seems emerging—treated infants w/ high fever, cold & cough, & non-purulent, itchy conjunctivitis w/ sticky eyes, not seen in earlier waves.”
However, Dr Michael Chang, a paediatric infections diseases expert at UTHealth Houston and Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital, told Yahoo News there isn't enough evidence to prove the new Covid variant is causing conjunctivitis. According to Ireland’s HSE, the most common symptoms of Covid are fever, dry cough and fatigue.
It lists conjunctivitis in the less common symptoms, along with:
loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – this could mean they're completely gone or just different to normal
nasal congestion (runny or blocked nose)
sore throat
headache
muscle or joint pain (aches and pains)
different types of skin rash
nausea or vomiting
diarrhoea
chills or dizziness
The HSE says: ”If you have any symptoms of Covid and feel unwell, you should: stay at home until 48 hours after your symptoms are mostly or fully gone avoid contact with other people, especially people at higher risk from Covid. You usually do not need to have a Covid test. But if you choose to do one and it is positive, there is different advice you need to follow.”
More Covid advice can be accessed on the HSE website.
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