NEW YORK (AP) – Three out of four children in the U.S. are infected with the coronavirus, and more than half of Americans have had signs of previous infections, researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a report on Tuesday.
The researchers analyzed blood samples from more than 200,000 Americans and found anti-virus antibodies produced by infections rather than vaccines. They found it. Signs of previous infection increased sharply from December to February when the most contagious variant of Omicron was grown in the United States.
The most noticeable increase was seen in children. The percentage of people under the age of 17 with antibodies rose from 45 percent in December to about 75 percent in February.
For Americans of all ages, approximately 34 percent had signs of a previous infection in December. Just two months later, 58% were done.
“I expected it to grow. “I don’t expect it to grow that much,” said Dr. Christie Clark, co-chair of the CDC group, which monitors the spread of corovirus infections.
The study showed that older people are, they are more likely to have evidence of previous infections. For people over the age of 65, 19% had signs of previous infection in December and 33% in February. This may be because older people have higher vaccination rates and are more likely to take precautions against COVID-19 such as wearing a mask and avoiding crowds, Clark said.
Clark said tests can detect antibodies within a year or two of infection and possibly even longer.
Studies have shown that a previous infection can protect some people from serious illness and hospitalization, but CDC officials have pointed out that previously infected people should still receive COVID vaccines. -19.
The study found clear levels of antibodies; He did not determine how many people had antibody levels that could be protective. Scientists are still trying to understand what role these types of antibodies play in protecting against viruses in the future.
Officials are still urging Americans to get vaccines and boosters that offer additional protection against COVID-19 for everyone, including those previously infected.
The Associated Press Department of Health and Science receives support from Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education. AP is solely responsible for all content.
Source: Huffpost
