Covid, what we know about the Kraken variant: symptoms and contagiousness

Covid has never stopped circulating and today we are faced with the Kraken variant: let's see what the symptoms and risks are.

China and the United States are fighting hard against Covid in the Kraken variant . For the moment, Italy has few infections, but experience has taught us that these data should not be overly enthusiastic. Let's see what are the symptoms that should not be underestimated and, above all, if vaccines are able to counteract this new Coronavirus.

Covid, Kraken variant: symptoms not to be underestimated

Still grappling with Covid , the entire world population is dealing with the Kraken variant. Belonging to the same family as Omicron, it appears to be highly contagious, although the World Health Organization has classified it as a "variant of concern" (Voi) and not yet a "variant of concern" (Voc). The symptoms are similar to those of the subvariants that preceded it or the classic seasonal flu:

• sore throat ;
• cough ;
• tiredness and exhaustion;
• widespread joint and muscle pain;
• gastrointestinal disorders.

In addition to the symptoms of the new Kraken variant, it must be emphasized that it is immunoevasive , therefore resistant to vaccines and antibodies obtained with healing. In any case, experts guarantee that the vaccine remains the best coverage and avoids hospitalization and death.

Risks and infections of the Kraken variant: what do we know?

At the moment, the Kraken variant of Covid-19 is mainly affecting China and the United States, but it is already present in Europe. According to the World Health Organization, the situation in Italy is " negligible ", therefore still under control. The first studies show that, even if it has a very high infectious potential, so much so that it has been defined as " the most transmissible subvariant " of the pandemic, it causes less acute symptoms than the 'colleagues' that preceded it.

According to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine and conducted by some American and Japanese universities, antivirals , in particular Paxlovid (Nirmatrelvir), work very well both with the Kraken variant and with the others.