With the Active cases in Odisha posting a geometric progression (over 3900 percent up) in the last 18 days, the death of two in the youth age group with no history of co-morbidity in a span of 24 hours has come as an eye-opener.
As per the State Health Department data, in the last two- days, the State has recorded the death of two - a 28-year-old male in Angul district and a 14-year-old female in Kendrapada - on the consecutive days of January 17 and 18.
Significantly, in both the mortality cases, there has been no history of co-morbidity. The State in the last 24-days (Dec 26, 2021- Jan18, 2022) had recorded a total of 35 deaths due to Covid-19.
And among the 35 deaths, nearly 26 percent or a total of 9 fatalities, have no history of co-morbidity.
Third Wave Fatality Chart
A glance at the fatalities that took place in the State during the period of Dec 26, 2021, and Jan 18, 2022, post the proper audit, reveals that the elderly population (60+ years) in the State are still vulnerable to Covid-19 infection complications.
A whopping 54 percent of total deaths in the State belong to the age group of 60 -plus. While most have co-morbidities, a high of around 26 percent of the elderly population who have succumbed to the virus has no co-morbidity history.
Significantly, almost all elderly persons who had fallen to the viral infection are double dose vaccinated indivduals.
Moreover, the State Health Department data further adds that nearly 17 percent of deaths declared during the last 24 days were in the age group of 50-60 years. All the fatalities have co-morbid conditions.
While the age group of 40-50 years has a share of nearly 6 percent in the total deaths declared during the last 24 days, 2 percent of deaths were in the age group of 30-40 years.
The adolescent and youth age group (14-30 years) account for another 6 percent of the total Covid-19 deaths in the State.
The Epidemiological Indication
The State has been recording around 3-4 deaths in the last 96 hours. As per health experts, the increased count in cases of fatalities in the last 96 hours indicate the initial tolls after the rise of infection in the State. The toll number is slated to rise further in the coming days, they observed.
The big reason is a total of 389 patients have been undergoing treatment in the ICUs across districts in the State.
What is epidemiologically looking relevant here is when around 623 patients are currently being hospitalised in the State, a high of 389 are treated in ICUs. The ICU rate vis-a-vis hospitalisation is a whopping 62 percent.
Simply put, of every 100 requiring hospitalisation in the State, a high of 62 needed ICU treatment. And data shows all ICU patients either have co-morbidities or are in the higher age-group bracket of 60-plus.
The Big Takeaway
The old adage prevention is better than cure holds good in the third wave. Irrespective of vaccine status, the virus in the third wave is killing elderly in a big way. Moreover, the virus poses severe risks for unvaccinated and partially vaccinated individuals (as evidenced by the death of a 14-year-old female and 28 -year old male).
The Bottomline is Social Vaccine is the sure-shot in the third wave.