The Pandemic is not yet over as new variants of Covid-19 have been emerging from time to time to date not only in China where this novel virus originated but also in other parts of the globe as well.
Despite the vaccination role out and the ongoing intense research all over the world, the pandemic is on the rise once again not only in China but also reaching other regions through a new Varian BF7 which is a sub-variant of the Omicron, technically named BA.5.2.1.7. Its unique feature is that it is the highly transmissible and shorter incubation period. It can infect 18 other persons as compared to Omicron which could infect 4 persons and the original virus which infected 2.3 persons on average. In addition, BF7 can also infect persons who have been previously infected with covid-19 and even vaccinated against it. The alarming fact is that it can infect both of these categories at the same time. This new variant also escapes from the immune system of the body easily.
The common presentations of this surge are sore throat fever, runny nose, cough, and fatigue and some people may have diarrhoea and vomiting; however, these symptoms are not different from the previous variants.
At present BF7 has reached many countries and regions of the world including the UK and European countries such as France, Germany, Belgium and Denmark, India and the USA. Every day China, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Argentina and many other countries are recording thousands of these variant cases. According to an estimate it has already spread to 91 countries and regions of the world and could disseminate to the remaining countries in a very short span of time.
Interestingly, it was November 2022 when the cases of coronavirus have been seen on the incline worldwide but at present due to this variant BF7 daily thousands of people are being effected once again worldwide for example about 66,045 cases and 473 deaths are being reported in the United States per 24 hours over the last two weeks, with 12% test positivity. Remember if the test positivity is more than 5% transmissibility is labelled uncontrolled. Furthermore, there is 22% increase in hospitalization in the USA during this mentioned period.
Some epidemiologist warns that the entire globe could be infected in the coming few months heavily.
Precautionary measures like hand sanitization & hygiene, social distancing, face masks, proper venation of places especially avoiding gathering in public places and congested areas and events like new year celebrations and getting the booster dose of the vaccine and working from home are imperative and would help in preventing this new variant’s transmission and spread.
Undoubtedly, vaccination could be an excellent tool to fight against Covid. Recently the UK health authorities have recommended bivalent boosters which protect not only against Omicron but side by side against SARS-CoV-2, the original strain of coronavirus hence every individual aged 5 and above should receive this vaccination without delays.
Currently, the covid-19 vaccination is also available for 6 months old children as well.
Evidence has revealed that vaccination and boosters have protected persons getting the severe disease and their chances of hospitalization, and death has also been minimized.
Needless to mention the elderly, children and people with co-existing medical conditions like diabetes, chronic lungs and liver diseases, cancers etc. and immune-compromised persons on immune suppressant drugs are most vulnerable in this BF 7 variant as well.
The World Health Organization has declared the new Covid Omicron variant BF.7 ‘a Variant of Concern’ the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and European Health Authorities are monitoring this new situation very closely and vigilantly.
Governmental authorities have been warning citizens to adopt all precautionary measures as the coming 40 days are highly sensitive. Accordingly, hospitals are conducting Covid-19 simulation exercises both for preparedness and prevention of the virus spread once again
Several countries including the USA, the UK, European Union and many others have been imposing travel restrictions from China and its neighbouring regions and require negative Covid Reports for travellers from China, Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea, Thailand, Singapore and other neighbouring high-risk countries from 1st January 2023 onwards
The Federal, Provincial and Local Governments along with the Heath authorities and relevant stakeholders must play their role in handling this new BF7 variant’s threats considering the already compromised overburdened weak healthcare infrastructure and poor socioeconomic conditions of the nation and country.
Fortunately, in Pakistan no case of the BF7 variant has been reported to date but as this variant is highly transmissible and has reached neighbouring countries like India the cases may be imported if the above-given precautionary measures are taken timely, properly and effectively at all levels.
As the schools and teaching institutions are being reopened after the winter vacations, extra vigilance is required positively. Remember a global surge in Covid 19 cases is expected to rise in January 2023 and the upcoming few months bearing in mind that precaution is the best remedy against all emergent variants of this novel coronavirus now and in future!!!