Medical Updates:Here are 10 things about the new Covid variant BF.7
The surge in Covid-19 cases in Chinese cities is currently driven by highly transmissible Omicron strains, mainly BA.5.2 and BF.7. The BF.7 variant of Omicron, which is wreaking havoc in the capital city of Beijing, is stated to be the fastest spreading coronavirus.
An Omicron subvariant, BF.7 is highly transmissible. It is derived from the BA.5 subvariant, and is the short term for BA.5.2.1.7. It is responsible for China’s COVID surge. When viruses mutate, they create lineages and sub-lineages — like the main trunk of the SARS-CoV-2 tree sprouting branches and sub-branches. The BF.7 is the same as BA.5.2.1.7, which is a sub-lineage of the Omicron sub-lineage BA.5.
BF.7 SYMPTOMS
Covid BF.7 symptoms are similar to what the original variant offered. The symptoms include sore throat, congestion, fatigue, cough and runny nose.
Covid-19 fourth wave scare: China has been hit badly by a new wave of Covid-19 with public health experts warning that fresh waves of the infection over a short period of time might give rise to new variants of the virus. According to health officials, the surge in coronavirus cases in Chinese cities is currently driven by highly transmissible Omicron strains, mainly BA.5.2 and BF.7. The BF.7 variant of Omicron, which is wreaking havoc in the capital city of Beijing, is stated to be the fastest spreading coronavirus.
China has stopped testing people since it relaxed its strict zero-Covid policy restrictions following unprecedented protests. Till early this month people needed to test almost every day to visit public places with negative test results. However, with no testing now, concerns have been raised about whether it is possible to track any changes as the country of 1.4 billion population battles a surge in cases at the same time as testing requirements have been scaled back.
BF.7: India need not be Panic but stay with safety precautions
The BF.7’s high transmissibility in China is attributed to a low level of immunity in the Chinese population from the previous infection and possibly vaccination too.
- So far, two cases have been reported from Gujarat, two from Odisha, in which the BF.7 variant has been detected. It has already been detected in several other countries, including the US and UK and European nations such as Belgium, Germany, France and Denmark.
- The government, though advising people to wear masks in crowded places, has said that there is no need to panic — a suggestion repeated by Adar Poonawalla of vaccine maker Serum Institute of India (SII).
- After a review meeting on Wednesday, Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya tweeted, “COVID is not over yet. I have directed all concerned to be alert and strengthen surveillance. We are prepared to manage any situation.”
- The union government has also asked states to send samples to labs for genome sequencing, which can help identify the variant or sub-variant.
- “ln view of the sudden spurt of cases being witnessed in Japan, United States of America, Republic of Korea, Brazil and China, it is essential to gear up the whole genome sequencing of positive case samples to track the variants,” read a letter from Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan to all states.
- At the Covid review meet chaired by the minister on Wednesday, experts said that though there is no overall increase in Covid caseload as of now in India, there is a need for continued surveillance to keep a track of existing and emerging variants.
- BF.7 is a sub-lineage of the Omicron variant BA.5, and has the strongest infection ability since it is highly transmissible, has a shorter incubation period, and has a higher capacity to cause reinfection or infect even those vaccinated, news agency PTI reported.
- The high degree of spread in Chinese cities — including the capital city of Beijing — is also being attributed to a “low level of immunity”, possbly due to previous infections.
- When the first case of BF.7 infection showed up, health expert Dr Rajeev Jayadevan had said, “Ever since Omicron arrived in November 2021, it has been giving off branches which divide into smaller branches. Of these, BA.2 and BA.5 proved to be stronger than the rest. BA.5.1.7 and BF.7 are names given to downstream descendants of BA.5.”
- India reported 129 fresh infections over the last 24 hours, as reported on Wednesday, and the number of active cases currently stands at 3,408. One death was recorded over the last 24 hours.
