Some pretty bad news on the XBB.1 Covid Variant.

[hlthe2b]

9. Sorry your son is sick, but thank him for at least starting to answer the question re: efficacy of

current antigen tests against this new variant. I'm glad your wife is doing well. I am hyper-vigilant as a constantly exposed HCW but am getting over a 10-day chronic infection with RSV. (Confirmed with a weakly positive test a few days ago, negative PCR for flu and COVID). RSV really does remain viable on inanimate surfaces (and hands) for quite some time, so my obsessive hand-washing must have skipped a beat some time along the way. For those curious, no fever, no body aches & pains, mild nasal congestion but a more runny nose, harsh dry cough with a bronchiolitis developing mid-course that made it a bit more productive, The only thing that is more RSV-like than the common cold was the extended course and considerably less nasal congestion. That said when the cough deepened a little, my saturated O2 via pulse oximeter dropped from 95% to 90% (still normal at Colorado's altitude, but a validated drop in my typical measurements) which coincided with a lot more productive cough.

As for your wife deciding against Paxlovid due to side effects, while it does remain effective (unlike the monoclonal antibodies in previous use) against XBB.1, given her fully vaccinated status, I see a lot of eligible patients declining the offer, and thus far no negative impacts.

Best wishes for a return to health. I'm better now, but my energy hasn't returned fully--much to the dismay of my increasingly inpatient doggy girl. She wants her morning 4-mile walks back. Maybe tomorrow?