There’s a new COVID sub-variant on the loose. This time it’s named Arcturus. It is derived from the ancient Greek and is one of the brightest stars in the night sky. Another name for this variant is Omicron XBB.1.16. It is more transmissible than prior viral strains and has caused a lot of mischief in India. It is spreading quickly in the US. Now that the FDA and the CDC have approved new bivalent COVID boosters, who should get a second shot?
The Arcturus Story and Symptoms:
Our crystal ball is cloudy. We cannot predict whether Arcturus will become a problem in the US. What we can say is that last week COVID cases in India jumped enough to mobilize public health initiatives. Several states reintroduced mandatory face masks. Vaccine production has also been increased.
Japanese researchers have tried to compare the Arcturus variant to the Kraken variant. They suggest that XBB.1.16 is 1.17 to 1.27 times more infectious. That would suggest that Arcturus will soon take over from existing COVID variants.
The trouble is that most people are using rapid antigen tests at home. There is no easy way for individuals to report if they develop a positive test. Consequently, public health officials have no good way to keep track of new cases. Right now, it’s a guessing game about whether COVID cases are increasing slowly, moderately or quickly.
Indian health authorities have described the symptoms linked to Arcturus. Some are familiar: Fever, cough and sore throat. There is a newer complaint that we have not heard before: conjunctivitis. It can manifest as red, itchy eyes. In other words, pink eye.
Itchy, sticky eyes are more likely to affect children. That said, anyone who develops symptoms (red eyes, fever, sore throat and/or cough) should have a COVID test run.
Wishing COVID Away:
Judging from our observations, most people have done their best to forget COVID-19. Very few people are wearing masks and a lot of visitors to this website believe vaccines are the work of the devil. We are not going to argue with anyone about the pros and cons of vaccination. It has become an emotional and political issue rather than a medical one.
I caught polio when I was two years old. Being put in traction in a children’s ward and isolated from my parents left lasting scars. I also caught whooping cough as a child. You can read about my experiences at this link. I hope the anti-vax movement does not lead to a resurgence of either polio or whooping cough.
Long COVID:
Most people think that when you catch a virus you get over it. One and done! Trouble is, viral infections have a way of producing long-lasting consequences. Many people who seemingly recovered from polio experienced fatigue, muscle weakness, joint pain, and a host of other symptoms 15 to 40 years later.
Ask anyone who is suffering from long COVID what it’s like. They too report overwhelming fatigue, especially after any exercise. Other symptoms can include cough, difficulty breathing, brain fog, sleeping problems, headache, anxiety, depression, digestive disorders and joint pain. That’s just for starters. There are dozens of other symptoms that I will not describe here. Learn more at this link.
The point is, you do not want to develop long COVID! Will the new bivalent COVID boosters prevent long COVID? We cannot say. They are too new to answer that question.
Learn More About Acturus!
One medical expert we trust is Dr. Roger Seheult. He is the co-founder of MedCram.com. We started watching Dr. Seheult’s COVID videos at the start of the pandemic. He explains complex medical concepts better than anyone we know.
His most recent video is about Arcturus (Omicron XBB.1.16). In it, he explains how the immune system reacts to this sub-variant. About 18 minutes into this video he describes data from Utah. You will discover that the number of COVID cases is substantially higher for the unvaccinated. Fully vaccinated and bivalent boosted people have fewer hospitalizations and way fewer deaths than unvaccinated individuals. Do not take my word for it; look at the data. Dr. Seheult describes the Utah data in some detail.
By the way, should you wish to listen to our interview with Dr. Seheult, here is a link. It is titled “Staying Healthy During and After COVID.” I think you will find his perspective refreshing and practical. You will learn about vitamin C, zinc, NAC (n-acetylcysteine) and hydrotherapy. This is all science based!
Who Can Get the New Bivalent COVID Boosters?
Both the Food and Drug Administration and the CDC have announced that they have authorized new bivalent COVID boosters for at-risk individuals. That includes people over 65 and immunocompromised patients.
The Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna bivalent boosters should protect against both the original COVID-19 virus as well as the newer XBB.1.16 sub-variant. Older Americans can get a second bivalent booster if at least four months have passed since their first booster. Those who are immunocompromised need wait only two months following a prior booster.
The FDA is recommending that vulnerable populations consider a second booster because immunity fades after several months and the second shot can reestablish some protection.
Dr. Bob Wachter is someone we follow. Here is his biography:
“Robert M. Wachter, MD is Professor and Chair of the Department of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). In 2021-22, the Department was ranked the best internal medicine department in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. Wachter is author of 300 articles and 6 books. He coined the term “hospitalist” in 1996 and is often considered the “father” of the hospitalist field, the fastest growing medical specialty in the U.S. history. He is past president of the Society of Hospital Medicine and past chair of the American Board of Internal Medicine. He has written two books on safety and quality, including Understanding Patient Safety, the world’s top selling safety primer (now in its 3rd edition).”
Here is what Dr. Wachter says about the new bivalent COVID boosters on his Twitter account:
“As a 65-year-old whose bivalent was in Sept, is still a NoVid, & is having more maskless encounters, the benefits (protection vs. severe case; 2-3 months of protection vs. getting Covid, & Long Covid odds) outweigh tiny risk of shot. I’ll get boost.”
