World Health Organization infectious disease epidemiologist Maria van Kerkhove recently called for “continuous surveillance of the (Covid) virus among Omicron variants of concern worldwide”. “About 80 percent of the sequences that have been reported worldwide to be ba.5 and their sub-lineages, Xbb is actually a recombinant of two ba.2 sublines, and specifically, ba.2.10.1 and ba.2. B.2.75. It is one of more than 300. Omicron’s Sub-Genealogy In the latest video update shared on WHO’s Twitter page, he said that we and our partners around the world are keeping an eye.
Dr. latest update from @mvankerkhove XBB and BQ.1 ️ on the Omicron sub-lineages
to track #COVID-19 In order to develop the virus and to make the right assessment and policies, we need continuous monitoring of the virus – well-planned and organized testing and sequencing. pic.twitter.com/RjCQihOl3t
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) 26 October 2022
The message accompanying the video reads, “To track the evolution of the #Covid19 virus and make the right assessments and policies, we need to continuous monitoring Of the virus – systematic and organized testing and sequencing around the world. ,
According to Kerkhov, the growing sub-lines are “gaining attention, and rightly so”. “Because we look at the growth advantage of XBB and we are seeing an increase in case detection in some countries. We do not see signs of change in the severity of XBB recombinants. So, it is still a low level of circulation. But we need to keep an eye on it because it is oomicron, it has a large number of mutations like all oomicron sublines, and because it has a fitness advantage,” Kerkhov said.
Elaborating on the ‘BQ.1’, Kerkhov said that it is a sub-variant of the BQ.5. “It has also increased transmission capacity,” he said, adding that hospitalization data around the world also suggests otherwise. “We don’t see this in any of the data so far. We see increased transmission but we don’t see a change in severity. Our diagnostics work. Our vaccines work,” she said.
Even before this, the organization stated on its website that “WHO has added a new category to its variant tracking system called omicron subvariants under surveillance to signal to public health authorities globally, VOCs.” Lineages may require priority attention and monitoring. The main purpose of this category is to investigate whether these lineages may pose an additional threat to global public health compared to other circulating viruses.
In particular, the Omicron strain – which is believed to be responsible for the third wave of infections in India – is widely believed to be a mild but rapidly spreading form. COVID-19 which was first reported three years ago.
Noting that many are not hospitalised, “there is nothing to panic as scientists are keeping a close watch on its course”, Dr Ravi Shekhar Jha, Director and Head, Pulmonology, Fortis Hospital, Faridabad told indianexpress.com Told. “However, we need to know that this mutated virus has the potential to mutate into a dangerous form that can lead to increased morbidity and mortality. Therefore, it is important that we take the full dose of COVID vaccination, and follow the appropriate COVID treatment,” Dr Jha said.
Agreeing, Dr. Monalisa Sahoo, Consultant Infectious Diseases, Yashoda Hospital, Hyderabad said that one should continue to wear masks and follow strict precautions, especially for infants, children, elderly, pregnant women as well as among more vulnerable populations. immunocompromised Population and people with other co-morbidities.
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