New COVID variant making waves across state; monkeypox detected

Prisma Health has seen a ten-fold increase of hospitalizations from COVID-19 as the fallout from the latest variant of the virus makes its rounds in the Upstate. Moreover, DHEC has confirmed the monkeypox virus in South Carolina.

BA.5 variant on the loose

Researchers have found the most recent strain of the omicron variant of COVID-19, BA.5, has been proven significantly more contagious, and it needs far fewer viruses inside the body to initiate an infection, said Dr. Helmut Albrecht, an infectious disease expert with Prisma.

At the moment, there are 50 people hospitalized, including 7 children ranging in ages from 6 moths to teens. Dr. Rhonda LaCroix, a specialist with pediatric infectious diseases at Prisma, said cases have been much higher since the most recent lull in the spring.

“Nobody seems to care,” Albrecht said. “We need to take this seriously.”

Monkeypox, while far less ubiquitous, is known to cause fairly severe infections, starting with flu-like symptoms with lesions eventually covering part or all of the body. While it’s not transmitted as easily as COVID-19, it can be transmitted through sexual contact, contact with the skin lesions or contact with contaminated clothes or bedsheets, according to Albrecht.

“Providers need to recognize it’s here,” he said.

Vaccinations encouraged

LaCroix encourages all families who can get vaccinated to do so. She said getting children as young as 6 months vaccinated could help keep all adults in the family healthy.

Even the existing vaccines can still protect against the existing variants, Albrecht said. He suggested anyone who hasn’t had a booster in six months to get one.

He also recommended people wear masks — and he noted the most effective were the N95 masks. Albrecht said they were most effective when both parties were wearing them. While outdoor transmission remains rare, close contact with someone who’s infected can lead to transmission.

He expects an updated booster tuned to better address the omicron variants will be available in the coming months, but he isn’t sure when they will hit the market.

“I would not wait for it if you haven’t had a booster in six months,” Albrecht said.

In the past month, LaCroix has seen a rise in MIS-C again, which is an uncommon but serious condition in children and teens that can lead to inflammation in the body. She said the vaccines help against serious infections in children and can lead to fewer complications like MIS-C.

As the new school year approaches, LaCroix advised parents to get their children vaccinated as quickly as possible, as the vaccine takes time to reach full efficacy.

“Getting the children vaccinated — it protects the adults,” she said.