THIRD WAVE: LET US BE CAUTIOUS AND AWARE BEFORE-HAND
Image by Creative Cursor from Pixabay
Let us start on a positive note. The effect of the second wave in India
is now decreasing.
Once the
daily number of infected in India had reached close to four lakhs, but now, it
has come close to 45 to 50 thousand. The fear of the second wave was so dreadful
that everyone is worried about the third wave of Corona. It is true that vaccination drive is going on full swing but we cannot say that it is a full proof to overcome the Covid fear. Instead,
it is being speculated that the third wave of Covid-19 can hit the country in September-October. And we have to be vigilant.
Some experts are of the view that the third wave of corona can begin
from the month of August. According to Dr. Giridhar Babu, advisor of the
National Covid Task Force, the third wave of corona can come in late November
or early December. It is also speculated that the third wave may be at its peak
during the winter. Given the nature of the second wave, it is estimated that
the third wave may affect the youth and children the most.
WHO confirms that there is more
possibility of more waves and children may get more infected in
this. It is because of the Delta variant
that is constantly evolving and changing its form. The Delta
variant has now reached more than 111 countries of the world and as such has
raised the concern of the world.
THIRD
WAVE
Many experts believe that the third
wave of corona can be as dangerous as second wave. Some have been predicting that may attack children. Some are saying that there are no such evidences that it will affect the children alone. The young and old are equally vulnerable. The various opinions are based on the trend so far. The first wave of corona in India became
a threat to the elderly, the second wave proved to be dangerous for the young
population, now the third wave can be fatal for children. The biggest reason
for this is non-availability of vaccine for less than 18 years of age till date.
Therefore, those who are most at risk from corona infection, they need to be
vaccinated as soon as possible.
While we must be prepared to deal with such situation. Amidst all this, a new report of Lancet
has come, in which these things have been denied. However, experts are not
unanimous about it as yet.
REASON BEHIND THE THIRD WAVE
Dr. Randeep Guleria - AIMS said that
these waves come due to the virus and the virus changing its form. But, this is not being considered to be the main reason. Not adopting
the covid protocol is also one of the major reasons for the spread. If people do not follow the rules like
maintaining cleanliness and wearing masks, then there is every possibility of a
third wave of corona virus infection. But we all do, we can avert it.
All the experts including K. Vijay Raghavan, Principal Scientific Adviser
to the Central Government have said that the third wave of Corona is sure to
come. The country's top virologist Dr. V Ravi
also claims for sure. He has also said that in the third wave there is a high
possibility of children getting infected.
Experts say that the possibility of
transmission of infection to children from family members or other sources
cannot be ruled out.
WHY
ARE CHILDREN AT RISK OF INFECTION?
Dr. Anjan Bhattacharya, a pediatrician
at Apollo Hospitals, says that the double mutant corona variant is infecting
children with a cocktail of other strains. Children are getting infected from
their own family members, who constantly go out of the house. The double mutant
variant has a tendency to evade the immune system easily. It comes across as
our body's system and escapes our immune defenses. In simple language, the
immune system/anti body works to fight any disease in the body. As soon as the
corona virus enters the body, all these elements clash with it and eliminate
it. But new variants/strains of Corona enter in disguise, and get mistaken as antibodies. This is the reason why a large number of children can
become victims of Covid-19.
SYMPTOMS
OF CORONA
According to Dr. Sagnik Biswas, Senior Resident at AIIMS, the second wave of corona has shown that COVID-19 symptoms are not limited to the respiratory system only. The most common symptoms include high fever, chills, shortness of breath, cough, cold, loss of smell, sore throat, myalgias and cocutaneous inflammatory sign. But these symptoms are not for adults alone, most of the children infected in the second wave have also been affected with these. They were also showing symptoms of gastro along with loss of appetite, vomiting and diarrhea. In some countries, there have been many cases of children in which their liver has been affected, although such cases are based on clinical experience. In the third wave of corona, a change in the symptoms of the disease can be expected, as seen in the second wave. This time stomach related problems have been seen for the first time.
Present
Scenario
As far as the present scenario is
concerned, reports of infection among children have started coming from the
states of Rajasthan and Maharashtra. In the last few days, 325 children have
been found positive with the corona virus in Dungarpur, Rajasthan. Similar situation has been seen in Dausa
district of the state.
All children
who have been found to be corona virus positive are below 19 years of age. So far more than 600 children have been found
COVID positive from both the districts of Rajasthan.
Along with this, about 540 patients
below 18 years of age have been found infected in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra. Of these, most patients in the age group of 7
to 14 years have mild to severe symptoms. A 1-year-old child has also been found
infected with the corona virus.
AIIMS sero survey report: A big relief
Amidst the clouds of worry, the sero-survey
report of AIIMS has given great relief. This report has been prepared by AIIMS
in collaboration with WHO. Report confirms that survey has been done in urban
and rural areas of Delhi as well as rural areas of Bhubaneswar and Gorakhpur
and tribal areas of Agartala. The survey was conducted between March 15 and
June 15. This survey report will certainly reduce the worry lines on the
forehead of every parent, but the experts who prepared the report have not
ruled out that if the virus mutates itself, it will bypass the immunity and
people may become infected.
NEED OF ACCELERATION IN VACCINATION PROGRAMME
India is a country with a very large
population and if the Government of India and the state governments are able to
do the work of vaccination quickly in more and more areas, then perhaps the
third wave of Covid pandemic may not even come. On the question of the third
wave of corona, Dr Guleria told news agency ANI that it depends on how quickly
and how carefully we vaccinate a large number of people, then probably the
third wave will not come or its effect will be very less.
ADVANCE PREPARATION
Instructions have been given by the government
to the health authorities to stop the third wave by adopting five strategies. This will be possible only through testing,
tracking, isolation, treatment and vaccination. Apart from this, corona infection can be
prevented from increasing by speeding up the testing of RTPCR and TrueNat at
the mass level.
Covid test is necessary at all entry
points of the state.
Whether it
is by road, rail or flight, instructions have been given to check them
strictly.
Also, by July 30, the construction of
the oxygen plant has been directed to be completed under PM Care and CSR.
Apart from this, it is also to be
ensured that 50 beds in private hospitals are ready with oxygen supply and that
too directly to the wards through pipelines. The work of Paediatric ICU (PICU),
NICU and SDU in Sadar should be completed in advance so that children could not
suffer. Health workers should be given proper training as to how they have to
deal with the children during any emergency.
Availability of Sufficient stock in
the districts must be ensured. Simultaneously, NGO and UNICEF at district level
should extend its support and cooperation in order to make vaccination drive a
success.
War rooms are required to be strengthened.
Also strengthen the IDSP wing of the districts.
PROTOCOLS ARE A MUST FOR ALL
The head of the World Health
Organization, Tedros Adhanom, has warned that unfortunately, the world has
reached the initial stage of the third wave of the corona virus and if it is
not controlled in time, then it will soon become the most effective variant in
the whole world. He further stated that the corona virus is constantly evolving
and changing its form. Because of this, more infection-spreading variants are
coming into the world.
It is unfortunate that till now no
corona protocol has been made regarding children. The central government itself
says that the number of children getting infected with corona is very less, so
there is no need for any protocol for them at the moment. Anyway, fighting with
any enemy in our country is done when he enters the house or is intent on
entering.
The countries that have already vaccinated
children below 18 years of age or are considering doing so are Brazil Chile,
USA, Canada, France, Germany, Austria, Estonia, Hungary, Italy, Spain, Britain,
Switzerland, Norway, San Marino, Israel, Dubai, China, Singapore, Japan, The
Philippines, Hong Kong.
DUTY
OF PARENTS AT THE TIME OF INFECTION
The devastation in the second wave of
Corona is a vivid example and we all have seen this. Keeping this in view, Dr.
Jaydev Ray says that children who show mild symptoms of corona should be kept
at home for 14 days. If the oxygen level is above 94, the patient can recover
with nutritious diet, plenty of water and proper care. But if the level of CRP
and ferritin is high, then hospitalization should be done immediately. Physical
distancing, wearing masks and hand sanitizing are very important.
There is good news that Covid-19 vaccines for
children below the age of 18 years will be available very soon as the clinical
trials is on the verge of completion. Till then, parents should
strictly follow the covid protocol for their children and prevent children from
going outside and crowded places.
----------
Comments
Post a Comment