By Mike DuBose
Covid is spreading like wildfire across the nation. Healthcare professionals we interviewed in September 2024, stated “It’s rampant.”
An extremely elevated level of COVID-19 is being detected in wastewater and sewage in all states. Covid, unlike flu and RSV—where activity accelerates in cooler months, doesn’t have a set season. Waves hit year-round. More than one-million Americans have been killed by Covid. Thousands have been permanently disabled this year by the virus. But fortunately, recent variants, like FLiRT, are less threatening than the horrific Delta mutation. Most no longer wear masks and only 25 percent plan to take the new vaccine that targets latest FLiRT-mutations.
Unfortunately, individuals infected with Covid, with or without symptoms, will attend large group gatherings, like funerals, parties, concerts, and weddings called Super Spreader Events. Any virus becomes an infection-chain-reaction where one ground-zero-person could theoretically infect hundreds. Please remember this statistic when sick with any virus.
Covid is very unpredictable whereby the same family may all test positive while some members have no symptoms and others are extremely sick. Many are experiencing all the dreadful Covid symptoms: fever, chills, cough, difficulty breathing, sore throat, congestion, runny nose, fatigue, body aches, headaches, and nausea. Friends who were hospitalized with severe symptoms are still recovering months later. If anyone in your home is infected with Covid, chances are exceedingly high you will be too. This depends upon the amount of time you spend with them and the protective measures being implemented. Remember, heating-and-air-condition-systems will spread germs throughout all rooms.
I have conducted extensive research since Covid surfaced in 2020 and the vaccines. My greatest concerns were permanently losing my taste/smell, experiencing hidden organ damages, especially my brain—most concerning was Chronic Long-Term Covid.
Long Covid Dangers: Often individuals with Covid feel better within a week or two but others have symptoms that last months or years. Wall Street Journal recently reported, “Long Covid has pushed one million Americans out of the workforce.” The CDC determined four million have altered their lives because of this long-term disability.
Mayo Clinic studies indicated the serious condition is more likely to strike females and individuals with heart-related issues. Long-term common symptoms that surface at unpredictable times include fatigue, dizziness, headaches, irregular heartbeat (AFIB), sleep disorders, chest pain, cough, depression, memory loss, cognitive impairments, and elimination of taste and smell.
What causes Long Covid? Studies verify the more infections we experience, Long-term Covid odds increase. Scientists report the malaise can have multiple causes where Covid: (1) Upsets immune systems to attack itself and erodes our gut’s ecosystem where the virus survives beyond initial infections; (2) Activates different viruses lurking inside our bodies; (3) Affects cells that protect blood vessels; and, (4) Attacks brain communications and nerve centers. Covid can assault the body’s main systems after symptoms disappear for extended periods of time or lay dormant to re-surface later.
How do we prevent Long Covid, keep symptoms manageable, and avoid hospitalization?
Take the new Covid shot: Vaccines are a personal choice which we respect. Many people have “vaccine fatigue” and are exhausted from talking about Covid. But there’s frightening, inaccurate vaccine information being promoted by politicians, social media, anti-vaxxers, and conspiracists who thrive on publishing their crazy theories on-line.
The mRNA Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are proven to be safe by many scientific studies which documented only 11 individuals out of 1-million vaccinated people (001 percent) have significant side effects. I have been vaccinated against Covid 10 times without negative reactions. Vaccine lowers your chances of Long Covid, has a 54 percent chance of fighting off Covid, keeps symptoms mild-moderate, and decreases hospitalizations. If considering vaccination, especially if you’re high-risk (65+ years old, diabetic, overweight, heart problems, asthma, cancer, and allergies), wait at least two months after your previous Covid infection or 90 days from your last vaccination. Vaccines aren’t foolproof but if you haven’t had Covid in the last three months nor been recently vaccinated, infection is headed your way. BEWARE. Your next mild Covid bout could have shocking permanent repercussions.
Wear masks: It’s important to wear them in crowded areas like airplanes where infected people who purchased non-refundable vacations and pre-paid tickets will travel and infect others. Masks aren’t necessary outdoors but if sick, wear them in public. High-quality masks are Amazon’s HUHETA-multi-colored-KN95’s.
Test when Covid-like symptoms appear: The government will provide free home tests in October (covidtest.gov). Since Covid mimics many viruses, consider ordering Amazon’s iHealth-3-1 home tests that detects both Flu-A/B and Covid. Throw away any expired tests. If you have symptoms, stay home to avoid infecting others. If home testing, wait 2-3 days after symptoms begin since tests often don’t detect Covid in initial stages. Hospital-based Urgent Care Center PCR-lab-tests outperform home versions. If moderately-severely sick and you’re within a 5-day-symptom-window, ask your doctor about taking medications like Paxlovid.
Carry sanitizer: Covid lives on surfaces like people’s hands (which you shake), currency bills (three hours), coins (several days), and interior-door handles (one week). Think about the many viruses which live on mall and other public door handles where thousands of others have touched before you.
Your smartphone is the most dangerous Covid transmitter since you touch hundreds of different surfaces daily. Recent studies detected Covid on 40 percent of smartphones where it can survive up to one week. Your fingers touch phones more than 1,000 times daily. Sanitize or wash hands frequently and cleanse phones.
The Bottom Line: Let’s face it—infections are imminent. Like flu and colds, Covid is never going away. Our job is to prevent and not spread it, keep symptoms mild, avoid “Long Covid,” and reduce your chances of hospitalization. Most importantly, pray for protection.
Contact Mike at [email protected]. Visit his nonprofit website www.mikedubose.com and register to receive his monthly articles or Daily Thoughts plus free access to his books, including “The Art of Building Great Businesses.” The website includes 100+ published articles he has written on business, travel, and personal topics, in addition to health research with Surb Guram, MD and David Hurst, DMV.
