In Poland, the dominant variant of SARS-CoV-2 is Omicron, including its new subvariants JN1 and KP, Dr. Paweł Grzesiowski, the country's Chief Sanitary Inspector, said on Friday.
He predicted that the new wave of infections could last until late October or November, with a peak in mid-September.
The new variants produce symptoms typical of Omicron, but the JN1 subvariant may additionally cause gastrointestinal problems, complicating diagnosis and increasing the risk of virus transmission, according to Grzesiowski.
He warned that post-COVID chronic inflammation can lead to serious health problems, such as diabetes and circulatory failure.
Work is currently underway on an updated vaccine based on the JN1 variant, which could be registered in the country by mid-August, though availability before October seems unlikely, news outlets reported.
Prof. Robert Flisiak from the Medical University of Białystok in northeastern Poland hopes the vaccines will be available from September. To date, over 58 million COVID-19 vaccinations have been administered in Poland.
New wave of COVID-19
Grzesiowski said that the new variants of the coronavirus cause typical Omicron symptoms such as fever, cough, conjunctivitis and sore throat. More severe conditions, such as pneumonia, are relatively rare.
The JN variant leads to increased viral activity in the intestines. Many people with diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach pain may mistake these symptoms for food poisoning, especially during vacations, and therefore do not get tested.
As a result, the JN variant increases the risk of infection, with public restrooms becoming a significant transmission point for the virus, according to Grzesiowski.
(mp/gs)
Source: PAP/GIS/x.com/YouTube.com/Everyday Health