The World Health Organization is calling on European countries to take seriously the care of patients who have had Covid-19 disease. It calls for investment in research and the development of postovid rehabilitation plans. According to scientists from the University of Washington, in the first two years of the pandemic, at least 17 million people in 53 countries of the WHO European Region may have experienced "long covid".
Long covid can be a serious problem in Europe, warns WHO
Published Sept. 13, 2022 08:47
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Modeling by scientists has shown that women are twice as likely to experience postovid complications. The risk increases dramatically in people who have had a hard time Covid-19 and have been hospitalized.
- While there is still a lot to learn about "long covid", especially how it performs in vaccinated and unvaccinated populations, and how it affects reinfection, these data underscore the urgent need for further analysis, more investment, more support and more solidarity with those who experience this state, says Dr. Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Europe Regional Director.
- Millions of people in our region, in Europe and Central Asia, suffer from debilitating symptoms months after the initial Covid-19 infection. They cannot continue to suffer in silence. Governments and health partners must work together to find solutions based on research and evidence, adds the director.
The symptoms of "long covid" include fatigue, dyspnoea and cognitive dysfunctions, such as on confusion and memory problems. Pocovid complications can significantly affect mental well-being. WHO Europe has announced an official partnership with Long COVID Europe, bringing together 19 patient associations based in Member States across the European region.
