Title: Millions of Americans Continue to Battle Long COVID, New CDC Reports Reveal
Subtitle: The Biden Administration Launches New Office of Long COVID Research and Practice
Date: [Current Date]
Byline: [Your Name]
[Your City], [Your State] – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently released two reports, shedding light on the ongoing battle faced by millions of Americans suffering from long COVID. According to the reports, approximately 18 million adults in the United States reported ever having long COVID, with 8.8 million currently experiencing the condition. The alarming figures are a stark reminder that the long-term effects of the virus continue to persist.
Long COVID refers to a condition in which patients experience symptoms for at least four weeks after clearing the initial infection. Some individuals can endure symptoms for months or even years. Common symptoms of long COVID include fatigue, difficulty breathing, headaches, brain fog, joint and muscle pain, and continued loss of taste and smell.
The CDC reports also provide insights into the demographic groups most affected by long COVID. Women were found to be more likely than men to have ever had or currently have the condition, with nearly twice as many women reporting current cases. Among adults, those between the ages of 35 and 49 were most likely to have experienced long COVID, followed by the 50 to 64 age group. Furthermore, Hispanic adults had the highest prevalence of long COVID, followed by white, Black, and Asian adults.
In terms of children, approximately 1 million reported ever having long COVID, with 360,000 still experiencing symptoms. Girls were more likely than boys to be affected by the condition, and Hispanic children reported the highest percentage of previous long COVID cases. Current long COVID cases were most prevalent among white children.
Despite the relatively low occurrence of long COVID in children, the Nationwide Commercial Laboratory Seroprevalence Survey revealed that about 92% of children currently have antibodies indicating a previous infection. This highlights the potential long-term effects of the virus on even those who experienced mild or asymptomatic cases.
Recognizing the need for continued research and support for those diagnosed with long COVID, the Biden administration recently established the Office of Long COVID Research and Practice. This initiative aims to deepen our understanding of the condition and provide assistance to affected individuals throughout their recovery.
The new federal data released by the CDC serves as a wake-up call, emphasizing the urgent need for comprehensive measures to address the long-term consequences of COVID-19. As the battle against the pandemic continues, the focus must extend beyond initial infection rates to include effective support for those grappling with the debilitating effects of long COVID.
For more information and resources regarding long COVID, please visit the CDC’s website or contact the Office of Long COVID Research and Practice.
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