The variant virus Omicron is coming fiercely. Hong Kong University virology expert Jin Dongyan said in an interview with the mainland media "The Paper" that Omicron can break through the vaccine and cause infection, and follow-up scientific research needs to pay special attention to this.
He said that people with HIV infection, those who need to take anti-rejection drugs for organ transplantation, and those who have tumors who need to take immunosuppressants, etc., these people with immunodeficiency, the virus mutation rate in the body will accelerate, leading to many mutations. Need to pay attention to the risk of infection.
Jin Dongyan said that the reason why Omicron was listed as a "Variant of Concern" (Variant of Concern, VOC) so quickly is based on the fact that this variant virus has a relatively large number of mutations and can be reinfected. There has been a small-scale outbreak in South Africa. Infectious, and has a certain immune escape ability.
He believes that everyone must remain vigilant, but it is still too early to judge the terrible extent of the virus and whether it has caused a pandemic.
If countries actively take measures, Omicron may be blocked.
The Delta strain was already prevalent in many countries in Europe and America when it was noticed, and it has been difficult to stop it.
The virus was first discovered in Hong Kong a few days ago. The patient was a 36-year-old Indian man who arrived in Hong Kong from South Africa. When he was staying at the Regal Airport Hotel, he transmitted the virus through aerosol to a 62-year-old Canadian returning to Hong Kong man in the opposite room.
Jin Dongyan pointed out that thanks to Hong Kong's sensitive monitoring system, before the WHO announced Omicron, Hong Kong had done a full sequence analysis of the virus, and had also found out the transmission mode of the mutant strain.
"Hong Kong's foreign import prevention measures are very good. Early detection interrupted the spread of the virus, making Omicron a dead end." Jin Dongyan believes that if all countries can take such prevention and control measures, then Omicron will not become popular.
The next thing that urgently needs to be studied is to sequence the virus genes in various countries to find out the extent of Omicron's spread in various countries.
Omicron variant virus: The picture shows the passengers who have boarded the KLM flight number 598 on November 26, 2021, because the passenger plane failed to depart from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol and need to continue to wait.
Passengers were required to undergo specific tests, which caused the passenger plane to be delayed for 4 hours to take off.
(AP)
Should strengthen the protection of immune-deficient population
Jin Dongyan said that the Indian man who was infected this time had been vaccinated and Omicron had a breakthrough infection (ability).
So this is also the most important point for follow-up attention and scientific research.
There are some speculations that there may be a direct link between the emergence of Omicron in South Africa and the high prevalence of HIV in the region.
Jin Dongyan pointed out that not only HIV-infected people, but also other people with immunodeficiency need to pay attention, such as those who have organ transplants who need to take anti-rejection drugs, and those who have tumors who are taking immunosuppressants. "Not only the new coronavirus, even influenza viruses and other coronaviruses may cause persistent infections in these people."
This also warns countries to take more active measures to protect immune-deficient populations.
Jin Dongyan said that for these people, there is no way. They need to be given booster shots, and they should be given the highest priority.
And they need to detect their antibodies, and they need to reach a certain level of antibodies.
This is to protect them as well as other people.
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