Back in the day, before the pandemic, there were lots of colds, bugs and flu. Nowadays, if someone is sick, they first check if it’s covid and maybe flu. But what about the common cold? Is there a difference in symptoms, etc. between Omicron and a common cold?
It doesn’t seem there are huge differences. I think anyone who thinks he has a cold would be wise to covid test. A few times if it’s negative as that doesn’t always mean negative
I agree. If either of us felt like we had a cold we definitely would get a covid test. We’d feel better going to a drive-thru pharmacy to get a checked for covid rather than using a home test. That’s just our opinion.
That is a good opinion.
I believe wearing masks has kept other virus measures way down too.
I’m fine wearing a mask. It is simple measure to stay healthy. Not a guarantee but….
If people stayed home or kept kids home when sick, it would help Also but that has been an issue for ages
Rainshine, you make a good point. There have always been and will always be infectious diseases around. Please bear in mind, however, that the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) is not a common cold. Most of us are vaccinated and have had a natural infection. So, we have several layers of immunity. But, as we saw in Hong Kong in the spring, when the Omicron variant hits a virgin population (I am using the word virgin to indicate a population with little or no immunity) it killed nearly 5% of those it infected above the age of 65, and almost 2% of those it infected above the age of 50. That’s not a common cold, however much it feels like one to us now that we have some layers of immunity. Of course, for those who lack immunity or are immunocompromised or vulnerable in some other way the Omicron variant can still wreak havoc: Hospitalizations and deaths have been increasing, though not nearly to the extent they did last winter.
Vicki, melioidosis was found last year in 4 states, so it’s not new to the U.S. What we’re seeing in the past few decades – maybe as a result of climate change – is a gradual incursion of rare tropical diseases into the U.S. Chikungunya, for example, but also West Nile virus, leishmaniasis, EEE, and others.
As my father often said, there will always be a constant battle between humans (and other animals) and mother nature. We ought to be aware of this, and mitigate against what mother nature throws at us.
C-19
7-29
ready
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Your no-hype southeastern New England weather blog!
A whole new thing to think about. Or is media feeding on these issues?
https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/bacteria-can-cause-deadly-infections-found-us-soil-water-first-time-rcna40067
Just made an appointment for #4 on August 10.
Back in the day, before the pandemic, there were lots of colds, bugs and flu. Nowadays, if someone is sick, they first check if it’s covid and maybe flu. But what about the common cold? Is there a difference in symptoms, etc. between Omicron and a common cold?
It doesn’t seem there are huge differences. I think anyone who thinks he has a cold would be wise to covid test. A few times if it’s negative as that doesn’t always mean negative
I agree. If either of us felt like we had a cold we definitely would get a covid test. We’d feel better going to a drive-thru pharmacy to get a checked for covid rather than using a home test. That’s just our opinion.
That is a good opinion.
I believe wearing masks has kept other virus measures way down too.
I’m fine wearing a mask. It is simple measure to stay healthy. Not a guarantee but….
If people stayed home or kept kids home when sick, it would help Also but that has been an issue for ages
Rainshine, you make a good point. There have always been and will always be infectious diseases around. Please bear in mind, however, that the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) is not a common cold. Most of us are vaccinated and have had a natural infection. So, we have several layers of immunity. But, as we saw in Hong Kong in the spring, when the Omicron variant hits a virgin population (I am using the word virgin to indicate a population with little or no immunity) it killed nearly 5% of those it infected above the age of 65, and almost 2% of those it infected above the age of 50. That’s not a common cold, however much it feels like one to us now that we have some layers of immunity. Of course, for those who lack immunity or are immunocompromised or vulnerable in some other way the Omicron variant can still wreak havoc: Hospitalizations and deaths have been increasing, though not nearly to the extent they did last winter.
Vicki, melioidosis was found last year in 4 states, so it’s not new to the U.S. What we’re seeing in the past few decades – maybe as a result of climate change – is a gradual incursion of rare tropical diseases into the U.S. Chikungunya, for example, but also West Nile virus, leishmaniasis, EEE, and others.
As my father often said, there will always be a constant battle between humans (and other animals) and mother nature. We ought to be aware of this, and mitigate against what mother nature throws at us.
C-19
7-29
ready