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Ho Chi Minh City announced a new variant of Omicron

Posted on 14 Month 04 2023

The Department of Health of Ho Chi Minh City sequenced the virus gene of Covid-19 patients in the first 3 months of the year, detecting the sub-variant XBB.1.5 of Omicron.

On the morning of April 14, the Department of Health said that the samples were taken from January 11 to March 20, explained by the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit (OUCRU) in collaboration with the Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Ho Chi Minh City. viral genes. As a result, 5 samples were successfully decoded, of which 2 samples were infected with the BA.5 variant, one BA.2.75, one XBB.1 sample and one XBB.1.5 sample.

This is the first time XBB.1.5 has been recorded in Vietnam. The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies XBB.1.5 as a variant of concern (VOI), closely monitored. Seven other strains belong to the group being monitored (Variant Being Monitored - VBM), including BA.2.75, CH.1.1, BQ.1, XBF, XBB, XBB.1.16 and XBB.1.9.1.

Thus, most of the above mutations appeared in Vietnam.

XBB.1.5 is dominating globally, has been detected in 94 countries. WHO recorded more than 47% of the world's Covid-19 cases in March, compared with nearly 40% in February. According to the HCM City Department of Health, the analyzed data showed no reports of higher severity, hospitalizations, and deaths from this strain than with circulating strains.

From the beginning of March until now, Ho Chi Minh City has recorded an average of one Covid-19 case per day. The number of infections this week increased slightly, on April 12 there were 3 more cases, and on April 13 there were 7 cases. 12 patients are being treated at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases, with no serious cases requiring mechanical ventilation.

The Department of Health recommends that people maintain herd immunity against Covid-19 by injecting a full dose of vaccine, especially for children aged 5 years and older and groups with high risk factors.

*Simulate nCoV with the outer protein spike. Photo: Public Health*

The national infectious disease surveillance system also recorded an increase in the number of Covid-19 cases nationwide. The Ministry of Health warned that the possibility of an outbreak of epidemics that could occur due to other infectious diseases such as dengue fever, hand, foot and mouth disease, influenza, etc., could also increase the number of cases.

The world recorded nearly 3.3 million new cases, more than 23,000 deaths from Covid in the past month, down 28% and 30% respectively compared to the previous 28 days. However, 74 countries recorded an increase in the number of new cases of 20% or more. In Southeast Asia alone, the number of new cases increased by 289%.

* SOURCE: https://vnexpress.net/tp-hcm-cong-bo-bien-chung-moi-cua-omicron-4593314.html

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