The COVID-19 variant omicron has swiftly expanded into several subvariants after its appearance in late 2021. One subvariant, Omicron BF.7, has just been identified as the major variant spreading in Beijing, contributing to a larger COVID-19 outbreak in China.
But, what exactly is this new variation, and should we be concerned? Although reports from China regarding the features of this variation are worrying, it does not appear to be spreading widely anywhere in the world. Here’s what we know thus far.
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What is Omicron BF.7
According to Chinese reports, BF.7 has the strongest infection ability of the omicron subvariants in the country, being faster to transmit than other variants, having a shorter incubation period, and having a greater capacity to infect people who have previously been infected with COVID-19, been vaccinated or both.
To put this into perspective, BF.7 is said to have an R0, or fundamental reproduction number, ranging from 10 to 18.6. This suggests that one sick individual will infect an average of 10 to 18.6 other persons. According to research, omicron has an average R0 of 5.08.
The high rate of BF.7 transmission, along with the possibility of concealed spread due to the large number of asymptomatic carriers, is thought to be generating major difficulty in managing the epidemic in China.
Symptoms
The symptoms of a BF.7 infection are similar to those of other omicron subvariants, especially upper respiratory symptoms. Among other symptoms, patients may have a fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, and exhaustion. A small percentage of persons may also have gastrointestinal problems such as vomiting and diarrhea.
In persons with weakened immune systems, BF.7 may cause more serious sickness.
BF.7’s mutations
As omicron has developed, we’ve witnessed the creation of novel subvariants that are better able to evade vaccination or past infection immunity. BF.7 is no exception.
BF.7 has a particular mutation, R346T, in the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (a protein on the surface of the virus that allows it to attach to and infect our cells). This mutation, which we also detect in BF.7’s “parent” variation BA.5, has been related to the virus’s ability to evade neutralizing antibodies produced by vaccinations or past infection.
Recent research looked at BF.7 neutralization in sera (a component of blood that should include antibodies) from triple-vaccinated healthcare professionals as well as patients infected during the pandemic’s omicron BA.1 and BA.5 waves. The R346T mutation contributed to BF.7’s resistance to neutralization.
Potential Causes for Omicron BF.7
BF.7 has also been found in India, the United States, the United Kingdom, and numerous European nations including Belgium, Germany, France, and Denmark.
Despite BF.7’s immune-evasive features and concerning indicators of its spread in China, the variation appears to be stable elsewhere. In the United States, for example, it was projected to account for 5.7% of infections up to December 10, down from 6.6% the week before.
While the UK Health Security Agency identified BF.7 as one of the most concerning variants in terms of both growth and neutralization data in an October technical briefing (it accounted for over 7% of cases at the time), the most recent briefing states that BF.7 has been de-escalated due to reduced incidence and low growth rates in the UK.
We don’t know why the situation in China appears to be different. The high R0 of BF.7 might be attributed to a lack of immunity in the Chinese population from past infection, as well as vaccination. Of course, we should be careful of the Chinese statistics because it is based on reports rather than peer-reviewed facts.
How to Protect from Omicron bf 7
Since the virus’s discovery three years ago, it has continued to evolve, collecting genetic alterations at a faster rate than predicted.
The appearance of BF.7 and other new variations is alarming. However, immunization remains the most effective tool in the fight against COVID. Furthermore, the recent clearance by the UK pharmaceuticals regulation of bivalent boosters that target omicron in addition to the original strain of SARS-CoV-2 is particularly encouraging.
The first and most important precaution is to wear masks in busy places and to take booster dosages. To date, 27-28% of India’s eligible population has received the preventive dosage of Covid-19, according to NITI Aayog member (Health) Dr V K Paul. Covid immunization and booster doses can help avoid subvariant problems.
People with weakened immune systems should be especially careful as the Christmas season approaches. They must practice good hygiene. Another technique for reducing the risk of Omicron BF is to test, track, treat, and vaccinate. There are 7 variations.
Conclusion
The Omicron BF.7 strain, a new Covid-19 type that has caused mayhem in China, has also been detected in India. In the last six months, four instances of Omicron BF.7 strain have been identified in India. Gujarat and Odisha have detected the highly contagious strain. Unlike in China, the new coronavirus substrain has not yet impacted many people, but the Centre has warned all states and union territories to be cautious. However, according to the ANI news agency, there are already ten distinct varieties of Covid-19 in the nation, the most recent being BF.7.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to host a high-level meeting on Thursday to evaluate the Covid-19 issue and its associated elements in the country. It is a novel coronavirus mutant that is easily transmitted to others and has a short incubation time.