The world will not soon forget the chaos wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic. While fear has subsided, COVID-19 continues to reemerge, instilling fresh anxiety. Regarding the sharp rise in coronavirus cases that Japan is currently facing, both the general public and medical professionals are concerned. According to officials, a new and highly contagious variant is the cause of the eleventh wave of infections in the country.
Kazuhiro Tateda, the President of the Japan Infectious Diseases Association, has emphasized the swift proliferation of the KP.3 variant, which is infecting individuals who have received vaccinations or had prior infections. "Unfortunately, the virus becomes more dangerous and more resistant with each mutation," Tateda remarked in an interview with This Week in Asia. He added, "People's immunity wanes quickly after vaccination, leaving them vulnerable to the virus."
The importance of the next few weeks was emphasized by Tateda, a key member of Japan's advisory panel since the beginning of the pandemic, as officials monitored the variants spread and impacts. Hospitals are witnessing a sharp increase in COVID-19 admissions, though many cases are not severe. Symptoms of the KP.3 variant typically include high fever, sore throat, loss of smell and taste, headache, and fatigue.
According to the Ministry of Health, Japan saw a 1.39-fold increase in infections from July 1 to 7 compared to the previous week. Okinawa Prefecture hospitals record thirty new infections on average every day, suggesting that the prefecture is especially hard hit. The KP-3 variant is thought to be the cause of over 90% of COVID-19 cases in the nation, according to Fuji News Network, raising concerns about hospital bed shortages.
Since the first COVID-19 case in early 2020, Japan has recorded 34 million infections and nearly 75,000 deaths. The number of patients receiving treatment nationwide peaked on August 5, 2022, with over 253,000 receiving care. Notable individuals like Doug Emhoff, the husband of U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, were placed in isolation after the confirmation of her test results. Likewise, numerous participants in the ongoing Tour de France have also revealed positive results for the virus.
What is KP 3 variant?
KP.3 variant is similar to the JN.1 variant of COVID-19. It also holds similarities to the FLiRT variants KP.1 and KP. 2. While the CDC is yet to provide information about the characteristics of the KP.3 variant, health experts have been observing the cases closely to get more details.