Since the peak of a wave of infections across the country at the end of 2022, the new crown has slowly faded out of public view, and people's lives have gradually returned to normal.
Recently, a new variant of the virus called XBB.1.16 has attracted attention. The CDC said that the new strain has been detected in the mainland.
Interviewed expert Director of the Department of Infectious Diseases, Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University Dang Shuanglock
The new crown variant virus is raging in many countries
The new crown variant XBB.1.16 is called Arcturus, alias "Arcturus", which belongs to the Omicron strain. First detected in India on 23 January this year, WHO designated XBB.1.16 as a "variant under surveillance" on 22 March.
In 29 countries and regions, including India, Singapore, the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia, the number of cases infected with XBB.1.16 has shown a rapid growth trend. It is understood that XBB.1.16 has become the second largest variant of the virus in the United States; causing new coronavirus cases in India to return to a new high in the past eight months.
Dr Maria van Kockhoff, WHO's head of new crown technology, said that XBB.1.16 has an additional mutation in the spike protein, making it more infectious and has the possibility of increased pathogenicity. States are reminded of the need to exercise high vigilance with regard to XBB.1.16, which is very dangerous for the elderly and those with co-existing respiratory diseases.
On April 15, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention announced the latest situation of the new crown virus infection epidemic in the country. Compared with the data released on April 8, from April 7 to April 13, 124 new cases (a total of 21 clades) of local key variants were detected. Fifteen cases of XBB.1.16 and 2 cases of XBB.1.16.1 were detected for the first time, indicating that this variant of the virus has also entered the mainland.
7 questions about XBB.1.16
Life Times interviewed Dang Shuangsuo, director of the Department of Infection of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, to answer questions about the public concern about the new crown variant XBB.1.16.
1. Why does conjunctivitis occur after infection?
Reports from the United States and India reported that XBB.1.16 infected people developed a different symptom of conjunctivitis from previous strains, characterized by red eyes, gritty and itching.
Dang Shuangsuo said that although Omicron still mainly attacks the upper respiratory tract, the viral infection is a systemic problem, not only on a target organ. Eye discomfort is also an expected symptom of infection with the virus itself.
The "Expert Consensus on the Prevention and Control of Novel Coronavirus Eye Diseases in China (2022)" pointed out that the new coronavirus can cause eye diseases, the proportion is 0~35.71%, and the ocular surface is a potential route for virus infection.
Whether XBB.1.16 is more likely to attack the eye needs to be analyzed.
2. Do I need to stock up on eye drops?
Dang Shuangsuo believes that if symptoms of conjunctivitis occur after infection, ordinary eye drops or anti-inflammatory eye drops can be used symptomatically to relieve eye discomfort.
Generally, viral conjunctivitis is self-limited, and it will get better in about 1~3 weeks, and the purpose of cure can be achieved without medicine, without the need to hoard a large number of eye drops. If the symptoms are severe, viral conjunctivitis may affect the cornea, and medical attention is required in time.
3. How to treat infection XBB.1.16?
XBB.1.16 strain infection is the same as the previous treatment of new coronavirus infection, asymptomatic, mild patients can rest at home and take symptomatic drugs. For patients with high-risk factors or exacerbations, new crown antiviral therapy and organ function support can be carried out according to the doctor's advice.
4. Will it cause the peak of the second wave of the epidemic?
Researchers in Japan and the Czech Republic say XBB.1.16 spreads about 1.17 to 1.27 times more efficiently than the XBB.1 and XBB.1.5 strains.
Jin Dongyan, a virologist at the University of Hong Kong, said that some patients infected with XBB.1.16 had symptoms of conjunctivitis, but the symptoms were still mild, and the overall pathogenicity of the variant was not increased, and there was no evidence that the variant could cause large-scale secondary infection in a short period of time.
Hu Yang, deputy chief physician of the respiratory department of Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, believes that like other variants, XBB.1.16 also has the possibility of causing severe pneumonia, but it is not more virulent than the previous generation, and there is no evidence that the new crown drug is resistant to it.
5. If I have been infected with the new crown, will I be infected again?
After infection with the new coronavirus, gaining immunity against this strain generally lasts for more than half a year. Whether you will be reinfected is related to the level of antibodies in the body.
Dang Shuangsuo believes that after "yang", the antibodies in the human body can reach 1500 or even more than 2000. However, among the people who have recently received new crown antibody level testing, some people have antibody levels of less than 500. If the antibody level is below 50, the risk of reinfection is relatively high.
6. How to prevent XBB.1.16 infection?
Dang Shuangsuo emphasized: "I feel that the new crown has disappeared and there is no need for protection" This view must be changed.
It is still recommended to do a good job of personal protection, wash hands frequently, wear masks, pay attention to self-isolation if you have suspected symptoms, and go to a fever clinic to avoid infection to others.
7. Can existing vaccines prevent XBB.1.16?
Dr. Allison Arwady, director of the Chicago Department of Public Health, believes that the current new crown vaccine can still provide immune protection for individuals against the XBB.1.16 subvariant, "overall, they are Omicron."
Dang Shuangsuo said that at this stage, it is still necessary to emphasize the vaccination of the new crown vaccine, and for those who have not been vaccinated or have not been vaccinated in the past, now is the best time to vaccinate.
Who needs to get a catch-up vaccine?
On April 10, the National Health and Construction Commission issued a document saying that the new crown virus has not disappeared, and the spread of the virus in the population continues.
Protective antibodies acquired with vaccination and infection decay over time. The World Health Organization and major institutions and countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany recommend vaccination 3-6 months after infection.
The need for vaccination depends on factors such as infection, previous vaccination history, and age, medical condition, etc. If you have not been infected in a previous outbreak but have not completed the established immunization schedule, you need to continue to complete subsequent doses of vaccination.
If you have been infected in a previous outbreak but have not completed primary immunization prior to infection, you will need to receive 1 additional dose of vaccine 3 months after infection. For people at high risk of infection, people over 60 years old, people with more serious underlying diseases, and immunocompromised people, a second booster dose is required.
The author of this article: Life Times reporter Luo Rong, Zhao Ziying Editor of this issue: Luo Rong