Chinese health officials reported that the Omicron variant of Kovid-19 is closely followed by the “Orthrus” sub-variant, which is spreading rapidly in the world and has high contagiousness and immunity.
In the statement made by the Center for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC), it was stated that the variant, also called “CH.1.1”, was first encountered in China in November 2022 in a passenger who came to the city of Tianjin from Thailand.
In the statement, it was shared that 24 Orthrus cases have been detected in 15 cities and regions from the mainland of China so far, and it was noted that all of the cases originated from abroad and no intra-community spread has yet been found.
In the statement, reminding that although the sub-variant is more infectious and immune resistance than the current mutations, the last wave of epidemics in China increased the antibody level of the population, “Although the cross-protection effect of the immunity provided by the previous infection weakens, we do not expect a new large-scale epidemic in the short term.” evaluation was made.
It was emphasized that the BA.5.2 and BF.7 sub-variants of Omicron are still dominant in China, and that no other new variant has an upward trend, and that people in the risk group and unvaccinated should strengthen their immune protection.
FIRST EVENT IN INDIA
The Orthrus sub-variant, named after the two-headed dog killed by Heracles in Greek mythology, first appeared in India in July 2022.
According to the international virus genome database GIDAID, the sub-variant, which has spread in 67 countries to date, is estimated to cause 6 percent of global cases.
The rapidly spreading variant in the UK accounts for 25 percent of the cases in the country, while it ranks fifth among the dominant variants in the USA.
VACCINE RESISTANT
The fact that the Orthrus sub-variant created by a mutation called “L452R” in the virus is resistant to the immunity provided by vaccines such as the Delta variant raises concerns.
Scientists from the Ohio State University of the USA drew attention to the finding that the resistance of the Orthrus sub-variant to antibodies that inactivate the virus is at an “extraordinary level” in the study in which they published their preliminary results.
The researchers, in their examination of the antibody-producing sap of the blood, determined that the sub-variant developed high resistance to antibodies created by BA.4 and BA.5 infections, as well as mRNA vaccines with known efficacy against the virus.
After the strict epidemic control measures implemented in China since the beginning of the Kovid-19 epidemic were lifted in December 2022, cases have increased rapidly in the last two months, and the country has faced the largest mass spread ever seen. It is estimated that at least 80 percent of the 1.4 billion Chinese population was infected with the virus in the epidemic wave. (AA)