Recent
The new coronavirus variant EG.5
Cases of infection are in many parts of the world
It is on an upward trend
The World Health Organization will be EG.5
Listed as a "variant to watch out"
For related issues that everyone is concerned about
August 19
The National Disease Control Administration conducts popular science interpretation
And remind the public to wear masks
The full text is below
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1. What is the EG.5 variant of the new coronavirus?
The EG.5 variant, a subclade of the new coronavirus Omicron XBB.1.9.2, was first detected in Indonesia on February 17, 2023. On July 19, the World Health Organization (WHO) listed it as a "variant under monitoring" (VUM), and on August 9, it adjusted it to a "variant of interest" (VOI) to strengthen the global assessment of EG.5 variant characteristics and public health risks. At present, there are three new coronavirus strains listed as VOI in the world, in addition to the EG.5 variant, there are XBB.1.5 variant and XBB.1.16 variant, all three virus strains belong to the XBB variant series.
2. What are the changes in the biological characteristics of EG.5 variants?
The EG.5 variant accounts for a faster proportion of global circulating strains, showing a stronger transmission advantage. Studies at home and abroad have shown that the epidemic advantage of EG.5 variant is mainly due to its enhanced immune evasion ability, and the neutralizing antibody produced by previous infection has reduced the neutralization ability of EG.5 variant.
Continental surveillance data showed that there was no significant difference in the clinical classification of EG.5 variant infection and other XBB subclade infections. Recently, the number of hospitalized cases in some countries with EG.5 variant epidemics (e.g., the United States, Japan, South Korea, etc.) has increased, but no increase in disease severity due to infection with EG.5 variant has been reported. The World Health Organization assessed on August 9 that the EG.5 variant showed characteristics of increased transmissibility and immune evasion, but found no evidence of significant changes in its virulence, nor did it cause a significant increase in global public health risk. Based on the available evidence, the global risk level for the EG.5 variant is assessed as low risk.
3. What is the global prevalence of the EG.5 variant?
Since May, the proportion of EG.5 variants in global circulating strains has increased rapidly. As of 17 August, the EG.5 variant has been detected in at least 52 countries or territories around the world. From the perspective of epidemic situation in all continents, except for Africa, the proportion of EG.5 variant in Asia, Europe, Oceania, North America and South America showed a significant upward trend.
4. What is the prevalence of the EG.5 variant in the mainland?
Mainland surveillance results show that the proportion of EG.5 variants in the new coronavirus epidemic strain is on the rise, increasing from 0.6% in April to 71.6% in August, which has now formed a dominant epidemic in most provinces in the mainland, and is likely to continue this trend in the future. From April to June this year, the mainland experienced the epidemic of Omicron XBB series variants, and the established population immunity still has an immunoprotective effect on EG.5 variants belonging to the Omicron XBB subbranch. Recently, the national new crown epidemic is generally at a low level and wave-like epidemic, and the epidemic has brought less pressure to the medical system in various places, and there will be no large-scale epidemic in the short term.
V. How can the public do a good job in personal protection?
As with the prevention of infection with other new coronavirus Omicron variants, the public should continue to maintain good personal hygiene habits, adhere to regular schedules, keep living rooms tidy, open windows frequently for ventilation, exercise scientifically, ensure healthy diet, and improve immunity. It is recommended that the public, especially the elderly and people at high risk of severe illness such as the elderly and patients with serious underlying diseases, do a good job of personal protection, and scientifically wear masks when taking public transportation or going to crowded indoor public places.
Related links
01
BA.2.86 - The new strain was named by WHO
Recently, a new strain (BA.2.86) was listed by the WHO as a list of "variants under surveillance" (VUMs), which quickly attracted global public attention, and the currently circulating EG.5 strain was discovered in February, but was not included in the monitoring list until July.
The WHO wrote in an announcement about the pandemic that the new variant was listed as "under surveillance because it carries a large number of (more than 30) mutations in the spike gene."
The US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) confirmed in a message posted on social platforms that the agency is also closely monitoring the variant.
The World Health Organization says the variant has only four known sequences. "The potential impact of the BA.2.86 mutation is currently unclear and is being carefully evaluated," WHO said. ”
Research published Thursday by Jesse Bloom, an evolutionary biologist at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, showed that BA.2.86 has 34 mutations compared to BA.2 and 36 mutations compared to XBB.1.5 for viral spike proteins. In other words, the mutation degree of BA.2.86 and BA.2 and XBB.1.5 is almost equivalent to the difference between the original Omicron virus and the original strain.
Morten Rasmussen, a senior researcher at the Danish National Serum Institute, said that it is not common for a new coronavirus to mutate so large (more than 30 places). The last time we saw a similar change was when the Omicron virus first appeared. However, as an authoritative medical institution, the Danish National Serum Institute also stressed that it is not clear how the virus changes in infectivity and pathogenicity, and is stepping up antibody testing.
So far, the variant has only been detected in Israel, Denmark and the United States. The BA.2.86 strain has been the focus of multiple agencies, and it is believed that it will be seen in the next few weeks.
02
Infection 1-3 times a year or become normal
Lu Hongzhou, president of Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, said on the 17th that based on the highly contagious nature of the new crown, the natural attenuation of antibodies after infection with the new crown and the absence of an absolute protective new crown vaccine, basically most people will be infected 1-3 times a year. "But for people with normal immune function, it will not have a particularly big impact."
Lu Hongzhou suggested that for people with low immune function such as the elderly, diabetes, and basic tumor diseases, the new crown vaccine should be regularly vaccinated every year. Vaccination strategies can include nasal spray vaccine and subcutaneous injection vaccine combined immunization, and multivalent new crown combination vaccine.
It must be understood that most people in the world have already been vaccinated or have already been infected with the new coronavirus, and even if a harmful variant appears in the future, the situation in 2020-2021 will not be repeated, because our bodies already have a certain immunity.
Ordinary people can understand the new crown as a large flu, which is very harmful to immunologically sound people and more harmful to vulnerable groups such as the elderly and patients with underlying diseases.
Timely booster doses before infection (eg, on the eve of peak infection, 3-6 months after infection) and taking antiviral drugs as soon as possible after infection can reduce the risk of severe disease by more than 80%.
The editor would like to remind everyone
Wear a mask! Wear a mask! Wear a mask!
Diffusion! Everybody knows!
Source: Langya News Network WeChat Comprehensive National Disease Control Administration, Linyi Disease Control, Changchun Disease Control