The BF.7 sub-variant of Coronavirus Omicron, prevalent in China, is thought to be the cause of the present spike in Covid-19 outbreaks there. It is not the first time BF.7 has been in the spotlight. It began to displace the main variations in the US and several other European nations in October.
About BF.7, What else do we know?
As the top part of the SARS-CoV-2 tree sprouts branching and sub-branches, so do infections when they change, creating lineages and sub-lineages. The Omicron sub-lineage BA.5 and the BF.7 are identical. The latter is also known as BA.5.2.1.7. The BF.7 Omicron sub-variant has a 4.4-fold higher neutralization resistance than the authentic D614G Omicron variant, according to a study that appeared in the journal “Cell Host and Microbes” earlier in the month. In a lab environment, immune cells from vaccinated virus-affected people were less likely to eliminate BF.7 than the initial Wuhan virus that spread worldwide in 2020. However, the study found that another coronavirus Omicron sub-variant named BQ.1 had a significantly 10-fold higher neutralization susceptibility than BF.7, which was not the most resilient sub-variant. A variation is more likely to propagate in a group and supplant competing variants if it has a higher neutralization resistance.
Does BF.7 also Exist in India?
The Omicron sub-variants BA.1 and BA.2 were responsible for the January 2022 outbreak in India. There were extremely few BF.7 in India because of the sub-variants BA.4 and BA.5, which proceeded, never became as common there as they had been in European nations. Only 2.5% of cases in November were caused by BA.5 families, as per the information from India’s national SARS-CoV-2 genome sequencing network. With 65.6% of all cases in November being hybrid variant XBB, it is currently the most prevalent Covid cases in India.
What is the Omicron Sub Variant?
The two sublineages continue to be a component of coronavirus Omicron, which is still a concern. The sublineages BA.2.10.1 and BA.2.75 are combined to form XBB. The TAG-VE looked into the information on this sublineage’s development benefit, some preliminary data from Singapore and India on symptom severity and latent infection probability, and feedback from other nations. BQ.1 is a sublineage of BA.5 that carries sudden increase variants at various significant antigenic sites, such as K444T and N460K.
What was Distinctive about China?
According to researchers, the rise in cases in China was not caused by BF.7 variants’ increased infectiousness or immunological prevarication but rather by an invulnerable populace. China is currently going through the regular Omicron spike that other nations have already experienced, precisely as the one Hong Kong had when it loosened its limitations, according to Dr. Anurag Agarwal, the former leader of India’s Covid-19 genome sequencing consortium INSACOG. According to him, since the populace had already been infected and immunized, it appeared to us that the Omicron wave was gentler. Furthermore, during the Delta surge, we paid the ultimate price. People died, yet those who had stronger immune systems. Apart from that, Omicron has primarily killed elderly people, and India is a youthful population.
Isn’t a Large Fraction of China’s Populace Immunized?
According to WHO, China has a high immunization rate of 235.5 doses per 100 people. Yet, China was one of the first nations in the world to create and provide its citizens with immunizations, and those vaccines were created to protect against the Covid-19 type. Since the start of 2020, the virus has undergone numerous mutations, and the Omicron versions are known to subvert the antibody responses induced by the majority of presently offered vaccinations. Indeed, a significant portion of those who had received two vaccinations contracted the Omicron cases in India.
Will the Epidemic Spread again in a Disastrous Wave?
While it can be fully ruled out, Dr. Ekta Gupta, professor of virology at the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, believes it is improbable that India Covid cases with a new variation will emerge as an outcome of the extreme circulation in China. She said that the surge of protein alterations had slowed considerably; there has been no significant alteration in about a year. It explains why just sub-lineages have appeared in place of new variants. You can see that the gap between the surge protein and Delta, as well as between Delta and Omicron, in the original D614G variant was significantly greater than what we are currently observing, the researcher added.
Let’s Discuss the Precautionary Points of the New Coronavirus Omicron XBB:
Coronavirus Omicron Symptoms:
- No fever
- No cough
- Headache
- Joint pain
- Stiffness in the neck
- Upper back discomfort
- Pneumonia
- No desire to eat
How can we Defend against XBB?
- Avoid congested areas. Even in an open area, keep a 1.5 m distance.
- Put on a two-layer suitable mask.
- Always try to wash your hands.
- This coronavirus Omicron India XBB wave is more lethal than Corona’s initial wave. Therefore, we should exercise extreme caution and numerous safeguards against the coronavirus.
