Omicron mutation expert: the new variant BA.2.12.1 has stronger transmission and no serious illness has been reported

In Hong Kong, a new mutated virus strain of Omicron "BA.2.12.1" has recently spread. Two groups of tourists arriving in Hong Kong from other places stayed in the Lan Kwai Fong Hotel in Kowloon Fong, Central, and were introduced into the community, resulting in outbreaks in many places in Taikoo Shing.

Xiao Jie, associate professor of the Department of Health Technology and Informatics at the Polytechnic University, pointed out that the new virus strain is more contagious than the current fifth wave of BA.2, but there is no evidence that it will cause more severe symptoms.

Xiao reminded that in the future, we must be mentally prepared. The Omicron virus will not completely disappear, and the characteristics of its spike protein may continue to evolve, making the transmission stronger repeatedly, but it may not be aggressive to the human body, and the vaccine still has sufficient protection.

▼On May 20, Lan Kwai Fong Hotel @ Jiurufang exploded the BA.2.12.1 new variant virus epidemic▼

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More than 70 branches of Omicron have been discovered around the world

As the new coronavirus epidemic evolves, each time the virus strain mutates, it is more transmissible than the previous version.

Compared with the original new coronavirus, Omicron's spike protein gene carries more than 30 mutations that make it easier for the virus to attach to cells and increase its ability to spread.

The current fifth wave of the epidemic in Hong Kong is Omicron BA.2.2, the virus strain derived from Pakistani women and Kwai Chung Village. The mutant virus strain "BA.2.12.1" belongs to the BA.2 subvariant, which first appeared in the United States in December last year.

According to a variant database, scientists around the world have discovered more than 70 Omicron clades.

▼On May 22, McDonald's at Cityplaza was closed for disinfection▼

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The current vaccine still has sufficient protection against the variant virus

Xiao Jieheng, associate professor of the Department of Medical Technology and Informatics at the Polytechnic University, explained that according to earlier genetic analysis, the BA.2.2 virus strain brought by the Pakistani woman spreads 4 to 5 times faster than BA.2.

He also said that the current vaccine is still sufficiently protective, and there is no evidence that the new mutated virus strain will cause more severe symptoms.

Siu Kit-hang, Associate Professor of PolyU's Department of Health Technology and Informatics.

(File photo/Photo by Huang Shuhui)

Xiao Jie: Be mentally prepared, the virus will continue to evolve and spread, and there is a chance to be stronger

However, he pointed out that citizens must be mentally prepared that the thorn-like protein will continue to evolve, because the virus is characterized by the mutation of a new host every time it spreads, and the transmission has a chance to become stronger, but optimistically, this means that It is easier to adapt to the human body and slowly forms a vaccine barrier.

He further explained that even if the virus is more contagious in the future, as long as it does not cause a stronger attack on the human immune system or cause a load on the medical system, there is no need to worry too much.

CHP: No evidence that the new strain of the virus is at particularly high risk of severe illness

Ou Jiarong, the chief doctor of the Infectious Diseases Division of the Center for Health Protection, said at a press conference on the epidemic earlier that BA.2.12.1 is a branch of BA.2, similar to the BA.2.2 that was prevalent in Hong Kong before, but only refers to "a new gene mutation, We have to wait for more scientific data to see whether the prophet will re-infect BA.2.12.1 after infection with BA.2.2. However, looking at the scientific data, there is no evidence that the virus strain causes severe illness and the risk of death is particularly high. According to WHO (WHO (WHO) ) The preliminary published data may be higher than the previous BA.1 or Delta infectivity, but there is no scientific evidence to confirm that the branch has a more serious situation, we need to see more data.”

He Bailiang expects that there will be more new virus mutation cases in the community. I believe that there will not be a large number of deaths or severe illness McDonald's in Taikoo Shing | A family of three and the infected woman are recruited for 10 minutes in the same field, recruiting a doctor to teach 2 self-protection Omicron can spread to 9.5 people Zhang Wenhong: Epidemic The challenge will not be over in the short term. Vaccine Pass for Vulnerable Groups | From June 13, the hospital must have an injection approved by the Social Association to implement mandatory follow-up examinations for the elderly who have been inconvenient in a hurry.