All about the new Omicron-Kraken variant
It's infectious but mild, so nothing to worry about.
This article is the result of a Saturday afternoon conversation in a local park. I state my reason for writing this sort of article here.
Summary
The Kraken version of COVID is highly infectious but, like other Omicron variants, is very mild, which means it is not dangerous.
Covid vaccinations slightly reduce the risk of hospitalisation from Kraken (and other current COVID strains) but by such a small amount, it’s not worth getting vaccinated
Natural immunity after infection provides better and longer-lasting immunity than the current vaccine technologies can.
Cold and ‘flu viruses rapidly mutate and become vaccine resistant, which makes it difficult for a vaccine manufacturer, even with the new technologies, to develop an effective vaccine.
Natural and prescription therapies, together with a healthy diet and lifestyle, are still the best strategies for surviving Kraken and other colds, however mild or severe they may be.
(Hi Xxxx!…)
You were concerned about the possible “highly nasty” new COVID strain that the media call “Kraken”?… Because it’s nice to know what you’re up against, I researched the internet and wrote the following for both of us….
I've noticed that whenever I search about Covid, Google exaggerates the severity of the illness (have you experienced this too)?
A Google search favours the experts that say Omicron strains are highly infectious (which they are) but never the experts that openly say that Omicron infections are mild (which they are). So I turned to Yandex.com and found an article that quotes a health department doctor from Chicago. (More on this later).
Why on earth name it Kraken?
Why on earth name a mild cold bug after a deadly sea monster, “the Kraken”? Nevertheless, I have to give the responsible researcher some marks for his memorable choice of name!
1. Kraken Covid is highly infectious, but people only experience cold-like symptoms; it is not dangerous.
This article in the UK Express states:
“Dr. Arwady (Chicago Public Health Commissioner) said in a press conference: “We’re seeing more people actually just have cold-like symptoms”.
…“just cold-like symptoms”. This is an opinion that is based on doctors’ observations and reports in a large city (Chicago). It’s based on facts, so is likely reliable. So “Kraken” is mild. Highly contagious, but mild.
2. Is it possible to assign a numerical value to the seriousness of Kraken COVID? I'm curious about how mild or severe it is.
We can put a number on COVID Kraken hospitalisations. This is of course only approximate. My research (page 3 here) predicts that a new and (known to be mild) Omicron variant such as Kraken has a 6 in 1,000 chance of putting an average 65-year-old in hospital (death rate of 1.3 per 1,000; five times more likely to require a hospital stay than die – see page 4 here). So 6 in 1,000 is a small but significant risk. The good news is that the hospitalisation risk reduces to one in 1,000 for a healthy 65-year-old (see page 5 here), and down to six in 10,000 for a 65-year-old of average health who’s already had a COVID infection.
3. Can you tell me how much getting vaccinated can lower the chances of ending up in the hospital with a Kraken COVID infection?
The very best protection that the current vaccinations can do is about the same as what you can do for yourself by maintaining perfect health, and is half as effective as immunity from natural infection (see next sections). By all means get vaccinated if you want to, but the absolute risk reduction is now very small. At best, in 65-year-olds this is a risk reduction of 5 hospitalisations per thousand infections and a risk reduction of 3 hospitalisations per 100,000 infections for 20-year-olds. See the table that follows.
Table: How much does vaccination reduce the risk of hospitalisation in an average 65-year-old?
4. Natural immunity from COVID infection gives 90% protection against hospitalisation
If the same 65-year-old has already had (and survived!) a COVID infection, then their immunity gives them 90% protection against their next infection putting them in hospital, even ten months later. So even if the vaccine is 100% effective (which it isn't ref 1 ref 2 ), There is little to no advantage in vaccinating if you’ve already had a COVID infection.
5. It has been observed that cold and ‘flu viruses have the ability to mutate and develop resistance to vaccines.
I recommend that you listen to the esteemed epidemiologist Robert Clancy…
Just as bacteria adapt and become resistant to mass-administered antibiotics, cold and ‘flu viruses mutate and adapt to become resistant to mass-administered vaccines. Thus colds and ‘flus routinely become at least partially resistant to the current mass-administered vaccines at about 3-9 month intervals. This makes it difficult for a vaccine manufacturer to keep ahead of evolving respiratory infections. It’s inappropriate, therefore, to look to vaccinations - and especially mass vaccination programs - as our first option to prevent and/or treat COVID and other colds and ‘flus. There are safe treatments and prescription drugs that work better, and a healthy diet and lifestyle makes a huge difference too.
6. Here are some helpful tips to stay healthy in the midst of any respiratory virus outbreak.
Having researched and applied the following advice for 3 years now, I have not had a serious viral infection and have never had to take a day off work (except for appropriate isolation). This is a far cry from the many severe colds and ‘flus that I’ve had during the previous 60 years of my life.
It's better to be prepared than to wait for the inevitable. Protect yourself from severe cold and flu symptoms before you get infected!
In addition to vaccinations (if you choose to go that way), you can always boost your resilience to colds and ‘flu by using the following strategies:
Vitamin D supplementation: 5,000 units or more per day, alongside sensible suntanning.
Fasting and intermittent feeding to normalise obesity and blood sugars. Purchase and read the book Fast 800 by Michael Mosely
Avoid processed foods, excess sugars, seed oils and hydrogenated fats.
Prayer, meditation and seeking out the truth (you know this is working when you can relax, rest, and sleep).
Socialise with friends, family and support network.
Herbal and supplementary strategies (for which there is a huge volume of scientific research).
Early home treatment keeps you out of the hospital
There’s plenty you can do once you know you have a cold or ‘flu. Research shows that early home treatment with, for example, Quercetin and zinc (you must start early) reduces the risk of severe illness and keeps you out of our overloaded hospitals. I recommend you put together your household’s early home treatment now before it is too late. Check out the following references:
https://covid19criticalcare.com/