Do We Have A Deadlier, More Lethal COVID Variant On Our Hands?

Roughly two weeks ago, the ministry of health came out to category deny that there is a new variant of COVID doing the rounds. They were particular in their dismissal and said that the people claiming there is COVID were out to spread fear and should quit rumor mongering.

I have two friends who have been placed in the ICU in the last couple of days. Apparently, they all have the virus; and it seems to be spreading fast!

Maybe the government should come out clearly and state what is really happening and give directives. Or maybe they are also scared of the pandemonium that will beak out if they officially announce the virus’s presence …..or, hear me out, they could also be Clueless about how to go about it.

It gets worse because there is the influenza and then there is Corona virus. All with symptoms intertwined, all deadly. We know how June and July usually go down when it comes to matters flu and this year looks to be no different, if not tougher. So brace yourselves because the current “flu” spreading around is no child’s play.

This new mutation is what they are calling the XBB variant. Everyone is advised to wear a mask, maintain social distance and carry your sanitizer with you. Basically, how it went down in 2019-2020. According to experts the new variant of the COVID-Omicron XBB coronavirus is different, deadly and not easy to detect correctly. When they say not easy to detect they mean it comes with different symptoms for different people – and how crazy is that. Also, it could come disguised as, say, pneumonia. As has already happened with a lot of cases.

Of major note is that unlike the initial Corona virus, the symptoms of the new virus COVID-Omicron XBB are as follows:

1. There is no cough.
2. There is no fever.

You however might experience the following symptoms;

3. Joint pain.
4. Headache.
5. Neck pains
6. Upper back pain.
7. Pneumonia.
8. Lack of an appetite 

According to the ministry of health, COVID-Omicron XBB is 5 times more virulent than the Delta variant and has a higher mortality rate than it. Buckle up – and mask up.

It also takes an extremely short period for the condition to reach severity with some people experiencing no obvious symptoms.

There are alot of horrifying facts about this strain of the virus one of which being that it is not found in the nasopharyngeal region and directly affects the lungs for a relatively short period of time.

Several patients have been classified as afebrile and pain free, but their x-rays have showed mild chest pneumonia.

Meaning the virus can directly attack the lungs, causing viral pneumonia, which in turn causes acute respiratory distress. Which explains why I started this article by stating that the Covid-Omicron XBB has become a highly contagious, virulent and lethal killer virus.

Avoid crowded places, wear a suitable mask, wash hands frequently, even if everyone is asymptomatic (no coughing or sneezing, because with XBB, these symptoms are non existent).

A friend of mine that has a high end hospital in Ngong tells me the situation is really bad. His hospital has 20 ICU beds, and where previously only 4-5 would be occupied (and this from recovering cases and what not) now all the beds are occupied while new cases keep coming in at an alarming rate. He is overwhelmed. A majority of those cases coming in are referrals from major hospitals within the city who have also run out of ICU space. Ohh, and the hospital has run out of Oxygen to give.

In short, if you contacted the virus right now chances are you could be in one or two of the following situations. One, you are rich enough to afford an ICU bed and oxygen and everything that comes with the perks, but the hospitals are overwhelmed and can’t help you. Two, you don’t have the money and can’t save yourself. Either way, you are, errr, to put it lightly, effed up.

Keep safe, although if we are being honest the rate at which these viruses are doing the rounds, trouble could find you at your doorstep.

Do not keep this information to yourself, share it as much as possible with other family members and friends.