A variant of Omicron is the BF.7. 80 percent of the current wave of Covid-19 in China is caused by the Corona BF.7 variant subtype. The corona epidemic in China was under control for the last 2 years, but it went out of control at the end of 2022. This news has once again created panic among many about Covid. Misinformation is also spreading around.
Can Corona BF.7 variant cause serious covid
Now the question is, will there be a new corona epidemic in the country? Is BF.7 more contagious and more deadly than previous strains? Can BF7 infection cause serious covid? Is it possible to get infected with the new strain even after vaccination? What measures should be taken to stop the entry of new strains from China, Japan, South Korea where there is a high level of infection? Is there a need to impose new corona restrictions in the country?
First, the BF.7 strain of Omicron is 2-3 times more infectious than the original Omicron and the World Health Organization has listed this strain as a ‘Variant of Concern’. That is, BF.7 Â infection must be monitored seriously and measures taken to control it if necessary.
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The power of destruction of Corona BF.7 variant
Is this type of Corona BF.7 variant solely responsible for the ongoing terrible corona infection in China? Before being detected in China, the BF.7 subtype was detected in several European countries last August. There was no big wave of corona in these countries then. China has followed a zero-covid policy since the beginning of the pandemic. Due to this, corona infection could not spread in the country in 2020 and 2021. As a result, no immunity has developed against covid in the large population of the country. Although about 90 percent of the country’s population is vaccinated, vaccination is not very effective in preventing Omicron infection.
When the zero-covid policy was relaxed in China in 2022, the infection spread naturally with Omicron’s BF.7 strain.
Omicron infection has been widespread in most of the countries of the world. As a result, a large part of the population has developed immunity against this strain. As a result, even if the BF-7 model enters in country, there is little chance of any major disaster.
According to the data available so far, Corona BF.7 variant is more contagious than other subtypes of Omicron, but not fatal. The risk of hospitalization and serious illness is much lower when infected with the BF7 strain. However, in those with high blood pressure, kidney disease, or other complex diseases such as diabetes, and those over 60 years of age, any type of infection can be fatal.
Can vaccinated people get affected
Those who have received 2 doses of corona vaccine or have been infected with corona before can also be infected with any subtype of corona including BF.7. Current corona vaccines are based on the original Wuhan strain. Omicron has undergone many mutations. That is why vaccine immunity cannot prevent 100% from Omicron infection. However, the adaptive immunity that is created in the body by vaccination helps our immune system to build resistance against any coronavirus.
As a result, even if the vaccinated body gets infected with the virus, it develops mild symptoms and gets better within 5-7 days. For this reason everyone should get at least 2 doses of corona vaccine.
How to Stop spread of Corona BF.7 variant
Now the most important question is, how to stop the entry of Corona BF.7 variant type in the country? It is clear from the experience of the last 3 years that it is impossible to stop the spread of the corona virus from one country to another. However, it is possible to reduce the speed of this spread by applying different methods. About 500 types of coronavirus have been identified and the virus is constantly mutating.
Since BF-7 is not a serious species, there is no need to take drastic measures to stop its entry. However, pre-flight covid test should be made mandatory for all those arriving from countries where BF7 transmission is ongoing. Wearing a mask is mandatory on flights and on-site rapid antigen test is mandatory if you arrive at the airport and show symptoms of corona virus. If the test is positive for corona, he should be kept in institutional quarantine for 7 days and sample sequencing should be done to confirm the sample. There is no rational reason for on-arrival covid testing in mass. The United States, United Kingdom and Germany are planning to follow such an approach.
Is it necessary to introduce corona restrictions
Another important thing is, is there a need to introduce corona restrictions in the country now? There is no logical reason to introduce corona restrictions in the country now. However, wearing a mask in public places and washing your hands regularly can protect you from any kind of germ infection.
In our opinion, it is important to implement corona restrictions in hospitals right now. Masks should be made mandatory for all health care providers especially in hospitals. This will greatly reduce the risk of coronavirus infection to patients from health workers. Hospitalized patients are most vulnerable to corona infection. This approach is being implemented in the UK’s National Health Service.
Symptoms of Corona BF.7 variant
Now the question is, how do you know that you are infected with Covid? Common symptoms of BF7 include sore throat, runny nose, slight fever with sneezing, headache and stomach problems. That is, when infected with the BF.7 subtype, it can feel a lot like the common flu. If so, keep yourself separate from others. If symptoms do not go away within 5 days, do a covid test. No medication is required except paracetamol or antihistamines. Omicrons get better within 5-7 days without complications. However, those with comorbidities or those over the age of 60 should consult a doctor if they have covid. It is possible to avoid the complications of covid.
