Long Covid Cases in US Adults Fall to 6%

Long Covid Cases in US Adults Fall to 6%

The American press is still trying to milk the covid pandemic for all it’s worth. A recent focus has been on long covid, defined as “the continuation or development of new symptoms three months after the initial SARS-CoV-2 infection, with these symptoms lasting for at least two months with no other explanation.”

A recent piece in Salon, focused on potential neurological disorders stemming from the condition, is a classic example.

…While things seem to be getting back to normal for most people, those with long COVID are still suffering – and this suffering will likely continue on indefinitely if nothing is done to change course.

As previously reported by Salon, an alarming scientific pattern is revealing itself across intersecting areas of research, which suggests that long COVID could be linked to neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s – having to do with the misfolding of alpha-synuclein proteins in the human nervous system.

This misfolding is possibly triggered by an initial COVID infection and can lead to unwanted accumulation of alpha-synuclein and the formation of Lewy bodies, resulting in neurological disorders.

It’s imperative that we follow this trail of science all the way through to the end. We can hope it’s disproved, but ignoring it will leave us headed in the direction of disaster: debilitating, chronic, irreversible health conditions — or what some are calling a “mass-disabling event.”

Meanwhile, the rates of long covid cases are steadily falling.

In early June 2022, 7.5% of Americans aged 18 and were experiencing long COVID, a condition that occurs when patients still have symptoms at least four weeks after they have cleared the infection. In some cases, symptoms can be experienced for months or years.

By mid-June 2023, that figure had fallen to 6%, according to a new report published Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

…In addition to the decline of current long COVID patients among total U.S. population, the percentage of patients reporting long COVID who were confirmed to have had the virus, fell from 18.9% to 11%.

Results showed that when broken down by age, only those below age 60 saw significant rates of decline in long COVID between June 2022 and June 2023, with significant drops particularly in fall and winter.

Focused research on long covid seems to indicate pre-existing conditions, underlying health complications, and comorbidities play a significant factor in the development of the syndrome.

Other factors that may make a person more likely to develop long COVID is being unvaccinated and having underlying health conditions pre-COVID-19, including type 2 diabetes and a past bout with Epstein-Barr virus (the virus that causes mono), according to the Nature review.

People who need to be hospitalized after contracting COVID-19 are also more likely to develop long COVID. Socio-economic factors also may make someone more susceptible, as having a lower income and being unable to take off work to rest increases the risk of long COVID, according to the Nature review.

In short, there is no “typical” patient with long COVID, since people with more mild cases can and do develop the condition, as do children. In children, those who have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), chronic urticaria and allergic rhinitis (allergic reactions including hives and seasonal allergies) may be more likely to develop long COVID, research shows.

There are many potential reasons for the drop in long covid. For example, now people are unconfined and can get out, build up their immune systems, and resume regular exercise programs, so perhaps more robust immune systems and fewer comorbidities are causing the number of cases to fall. Maybe exposure to all the variants has enhanced natural immunity, which makes long covid development less likely? Or perhaps long covid cases are misidentified, and there is another cause for the syndrome.

And while those experiencing long covid may be struggling, how many more resources will be tossed at this problem rather than something that could have more significant public health ramifications?

Of course, our government massaged the numbers and the data on long covid and determined that….even more government is needed.

Last month, the US Department of Health and Human Services announced the formation of the Office of Long COVID Research and Practice to lead the federal government’s response to long Covid.

It’s estimated that up to 23 million people in the United States have developed long Covid.

“As our nation continues to make strides in combating COVID-19, it is crucial that we address the impact of Long COVID and provide resources to those in need,” HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said in last week’s announcement.

“Last year President Biden called on HHS to coordinate the response to Long COVID. The Official establishment of the Long COVID Coordinating office and the launch of the RECOVER clinical trials solidifies this issue as an ongoing priority.”

The National Institutes of Health’s RECOVER Initiative, launched in 2021, is a $1.15 billion nationwide research program aimed at better understanding, treating and preventing long Covid.

Some Americans offer other suggestions for something to fund with $1.15 billion in taxpayer dollars or freshly minted denominations.

Why don’t you look into opening an Office of Adverse Reaction from Covid Vaccines (aka VAERS) that actually reports on those injured from a mandated vaccine?

— Derf (@Derf8675309) August 12, 2023

Donations tax deductible
to the full extent allowed by law.