(MENAFN- Swissinfo)
Keystone
Swiss public broadcaster SRF reports that a hidden coronavirus wave is rampant in parts of Switzerland. The viral load in sewage treatment plants is as high as in the summer wave of 2022 and higher than last autumn.
This content was published on April 22, 2023 April 22, 2023 The omicron variant is currently dominant, according to federal statistics. Aargau particularly affected. Experts say this easily transmissible variant usually leads to an annoying cold, fever or runny nose. The regions of Lucerne, Winterthur and Aarau.
Not yet seasonalMany experts have predicted that the Sars-CoV-2 will eventually become seasonal but that is not yet the case, notes SRF.
Huldrych Günthard, a senior physician at the clinic for infectious diseases at the Zurich University Hospital , says there are multiple possible explanations for this. One could be that the immunity of the population is not as high as desired so the basic activity of the virus remains still too high. "Another possibility is that the virus has it easier again because only a few are vaccinated and therefore the partial vaccination,” he told the broadcaster.
+ vaccination rates in switzerland
The total number of coronavirus cases in Switzerland is unknown. Testing has become rare after the government stopped covering testing costs. Hospitals consulted by SRF, including Zurich University Hospital, did not report an increase in coronavirus patients.
The use of wastewater-based epidemiology as a tool to monitor SARS-CoV-2 circulation arose among researchers early in the pandemic. Findings were used to identify hot spots and inform public health decision-making in several countries, including Switzerland. But a cost-benefit analysis led Switzerland to reduce the number of waste treatment plants used to monitor the spread of Covid-19 in wastewater in January.
MENAFN22042023000210011054ID1106071907
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.