A, B, C, D, E, F, G… And the winner is (drum roll) the Scrabble Virus! Yes readers, here is another one

BY SIMONE J. SMITH

Internationally, there is another variant, XBB, which has emerged in Singapore and is being closely watched worldwide as mainstream reports that it is spreading quickly in other countries.

The new variants were coined the “Scrabble” variants by Peter Hotez, Co-Director of the Centre for Vaccine Development at Texas Children’s Hospital, during an interview with the Houston Chronicle. Apparently, the nickname refers to the letters that are used to define the variants like B, X and Q, which would rack up many points in a game of Scrabble. Interesting that this has reference to a popular game, but I digress…

There have been reports that omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5 dominated the US as recently as mid-September. Two variants in particular—BQ.1 and BQ.1.1—recently accounted for at least 11% of all COVID infections in the country, per the CDC.

There is a jumble of letters that you are going to need to remember to remain part of this game (shake my head), and they include:

• BQ.1
• BQ.1.1
• BF.7
• BA.4.6
• BA.2.75
• BA.2.75.2

BQ.1 and BQ.1.1, in particular, are poised to circulate frequently in the coming months. Anthony Fauci, MD, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, recently told CBC News that these variants are “troublesome” and have “qualities or characteristics that could evade some of the interventions we have.”

Your next question readers should be, what is the reason for that? Scientists have found that they have “minor mutations in the spike protein” that differentiate them from each other and from what’s circulating now. This might also mean that the vaccines that worked for the influenza pool of letters that many were forced to take during the pandemic, will not work for the “Scrabble” virus. According to the scientists, when it comes to transmission protection, “It’s unclear how well the bivalent booster will work against these variants.” These variants are reportedly immune-evasive to a degree, but likely more evasive to the original vaccine than they are to the new booster.

My question is, when will our bodies’ natural ability to heal itself become the focus of our scientific community? Instead of vaccines, why are natural ways for our bodies to build immunity to pathogens that have been around for thousands of years being developed and propagated?

Historical records of outbreaks caused by viruses and other pathogens stretch back thousands of years. It seems plausible that these interactions go back even further, to the earliest periods of human prehistory.

When our ancestors spread out from Africa across the world they would have been introduced to new pathogens. Like many other environmental challenges, these ancient viral encounters may have triggered adaptations that helped our ancestors survive. These adaptations may have included physiological or immunological changes that improved resistance to infection or reduced the health impacts of the disease, something that nowadays we like to call immunity.

That’s right people, we have had viral encounters for years; some people made it, some did not, but those who did passed down their genetics, and the world continued to turn.

According to the CDC seasonal influenza (flu) viruses are detected year-round in the United States and Canada. They typically circulate during the fall and winter during what’s known as the flu season. The exact timing and duration of flu seasons varies, but flu activity often begins to increase in October. Most of the time flu activity peaks between December and February, although significant activity can last as late as May.

Somehow, all of a sudden, when a new “virus” pops up, there is this huge announcement, they have a naming ceremony, and everyone is put on high alert.

If you start experiencing fever, chills, cough, a new loss of taste or smell, muscle or body aches, headache, sore throat, shortness of breath, nausea, or vomiting, you might have the flu, but unless you are considered high-risk, do not be too considerate. Speak to a health professional that you know has your best interest at heart, and start changing the way you treat your body. Prevention is always better than the cure.