LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – Doctors across the Las Vegas Valley are once again seeing the annual COVID-19 spike that occurs during the summer months, as more people are hiding from the heat, congregating indoors, and traveling across the country.
Descendants of the Omicron variant, otherwise known as “FLiRT,” are circulating nationwide, producing less severe symptoms but are more transmissible. The Southern Nevada Health District tells FOX5, fewer cases occurred last year, but fewer people were vaccinated, leading to lessened immunity for many in 2024.
Though health agencies are no longer tracking numbers of cases, the CDC relies on wastewater surveillance to detect the levels of viruses circulating through the community. Nevada has some of the highest levels in the country, though caseloads are far less than previous surges at the beginning of the pandemic. UNLV has its own surveillance program tracking virus levels.
“A majority of the population has either been vaccinated, or they’ve been sick with COVID. And that’s overall helping the at-large population immunity,” said Dr. Jeff Wagner, P3 Nevada Vice President of Clinical Affairs. “There are various treatments for COVID. Paxlovid happens to be one of those, but there’s others,” he said.
“The high risk populations really haven’t changed: you really need to be vigilant when you have those conditions,” Dr. Wagner said, urging at-risk populations to consult their doctor to make sure symptoms do not progress.
Dr. Wagner advises patients to get up-to-date on their COVID-19 and flu shots, especially as winter approaches and more people get sick.
“With regard to boosters, we’re shifting into this annual booster situation with COVID, similar to how we have the annual flu shot. During the winter season, we’re going to see a spike up again,” Dr. Wagner said.
Dr. Wagner also urges people to wear N-95 masks if they are traveling and headed to the airport, or going into large crowds.
Copyright 2024 KVVU. All rights reserved.