COVID-19 in Thailand returns to haunt again After downgrading from a dangerous communicable disease to a vigilant communicable disease for just the last 2 months “Website of the Department of Disease Control” Weekly report on the situation of the COVID-19 epidemic (During 4-10 Dec. 2022) There were 3,961 patients admitted to the hospital, or an average of 566 people per day, 107 deaths, an average of 15 per day, 649 pneumonia patients, and 385 intubation patients. Even though the number of patients receiving treatment in hospital slightly decreased but pneumonia patients intubation Including the death toll continued to increase!!!
Keep an eye on the strains of COVID that is spreading in India
Dr. Manoon Leechawengwong (M.D. Manoon), specialist in respiratory system Vichaiyut Hospital Posted on personal Facebook (Mr. Manoon Leechawengwong FC) stated that Thailand must keep an eye on what strains of the COVID-19 virus are spreading in India. Because many times there is an epidemic of a new mutant COVID virus in India. After a while, the epidemic of that strain was found in Thailand. Take a look back at the Delta strain of the COVID-19 virus. First found in India in late 2020, later spreading fast. A global pandemic And Thailand had a large epidemic from the Delta strain in mid-2021. In June 2022, India found the first BA.2.75 subspecies of the COVID-19 virus. This spread faster Replaced subspecies BA.5, endemic in India. and spread to many countries around the world
Warning to watch out for “XBB”, believing that it will soon take over Thailand
Thailand is currently experiencing a new outbreak of COVID-19. Caused by the BA.2.75 virus, but India has begun to see an outbreak of the XBB COVID virus, which is a hybrid of the BA.2.10.1 and BA.2.75 viruses, believing that it will soon enter Replaced the BA.2.75 strain in India. As for Thailand, you can prepare yourself. After the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus, the BA.2.75 strain will soon have an XBB strain spreading like India. Because this new species is more contagious than the old species. and avoid immunity from vaccination or natural infection better than the original strain Currently, the new strain of the COVID virus takes a shorter time, only 3-4 months, to replace the original strain. And caused a new pandemic over and over again all over the world. Fortunately, new strains of the COVID virus It doesn’t make people seriously ill and die like Delta species. Especially those who received 4 doses of vaccine, i.e. received 2 doses of vaccine followed by 2 booster doses.
Keep an eye on “Omicron” 5 subspecies keep a close eye on
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Teera Woratanarat (M.D. Teera), Faculty of Medicine Chulalongkorn University Has posted a message on Facebook “Thira Woratanarat (Papa Mee Keen)” stating that updates from the WHO (World Health Organization) published weekly information “WHO Weekly Epidemiological Update on December 14, 2022” at present. breedOmicronThe proportion is as high as 99.5%, with omikrons sprouting and progeny to more than 540 subspecies. This is a hybrid virus resulting from interbreeding with subspecies. Also known as recombinant, over 61 subspecies. The characteristics of the virus changes that were observed during that period were There are several common loci mutations. or repeatedly found in many subspecies reflecting that the new virus They tend to have convergent evolution, importantly, the location of the mutations seems to be related to viral performance. Developed for greater resistance to immunity (immune evasiveness) by five subspecies of omikron. Those in close monitoring are currently as follows.
- BA.2.75.x : It has been reported since December 2021 and has spread in countries in Southeast Asia. To date, it has spread throughout the world in 85 countries. Originally endemic in India and Bangladesh, it was later replaced by XBB. Currently, the countries with the highest prevalence of this subspecies are Thailand (53.8%), Australia ( 25.1%), Malaysia (22.5%), China (18.8%), and New Zealand (16.3%).
- BA.5 : dominated the global epidemic for a long time Because it has the ability to infect quickly. and more immune-resistant than its predecessors, BA.1 and BA.2, which have been detected in 119 countries.
- BQ.1.x : It is one of the species with the fastest increasing incidence rate. It is now distributed to 90 countries.
- XBB.x : It is a hybrid between BA.2.10.1 and BA.2.75, first reported in August 2022, which is currently spreading to 70 countries around the world. But the prevalence is still low, around 3.8%. The most prevalent countries are India (62.5%), Dominican Republic (48.2%), Singapore (47.3%), Malaysia (40.9%), and Indonesia (29.3%).
- BA.2.30.2 : There are several mutational loci similar to the above subspecies. There are not many outbreaks reported yet. but can be found on almost every continent Overall, strains BA.2.75.x and XBB were found to expand slowly. in Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific
Warning to live life. Don’t be careless. recommend booster vaccination Reduce the risk of serious illness – death.
While BQ.1.x and BA.5, which have more mutations from the original 5 locations, the outbreak has expanded relatively faster. and spread throughout the world The epidemic in Thailand is still ongoing, so one should live consciously, not carelessly, and always be careful when going out in daily life. need to get a booster vaccine To reduce the risk of severe illness, death, and try COVID. If you are sick, cough, sore throat, fever, nasal congestion, headache, muscle pain, you should check ATK if the positive result means infection. You should self-isolate from others for at least 7-10 days until your symptoms improve, you don’t have a fever, and you repeat a negative test. Therefore came out to live in strict self-defense until 2 weeks
“If sick but tested negative don’t trust It can be a false negative. Therefore, it should be repeated every day for at least 3 consecutive days. Today’s social environment has a large number of contagious infections. very risky You need to protect yourself well. which is not infected or not re-infected is the best Because it’s addicted, not just chilling and recovering, but being seriously ill, dying, and risking long-term symptoms of long-term COVID-19. that impairs the quality of life and life performance Wearing a mask correctly and consistently It will greatly reduce the risk.”
More than 70% of Thai people are infected with COVID-19
Prof. Dr. Yong Phuwarawan, Head of the Center of Excellence in Clinical Virology Department of Pediatrics Faculty of Medicine Chulalongkorn University Stated that about 70 percent of Thai people have been infected with COVID, according to a study from the history of infection. And the blood test in Chonburi Province will see that about 60-70% of the Thai population has been infected and will continue to increase. People who have never been infected will be a minority. especially in children It will be an infection with mild symptoms or no symptoms. Blood test results confirm that infection has already occurred from anti nucleocapsid
However, most of the population detected immunity. anti spike More than 95% of the autoimmune disease is caused by infection. and or from vaccination Which all information is now similar to influenza. Most of the adult population has detectable antibodies to influenza. But it’s still flu. Antibodies to influenza are less detectable in children under 3 years of age, and after 3 years of age, most people have been infected with influenza. which the nature of respiratory viral disease When it is in children, the severity is less than in adults or the elderly. will encounter increased violence in vulnerable groups or 608
Therefore, in the future, groups that do not have immunity to COVID It will be a new born child until 2-3 years old, and once infected, it will be immune to the virus. And there is a re-infection when growing up, the intensity will be less. As for the vulnerable group, it is the group that should receive the booster vaccine. as well as influenza with vaccination in risk groups The picture of the future of COVID-19 It would be similar. with past respiratory disease to have an infection in a child because the virus is easily contagious And when growing up, there will be immunity. from pediatric infections and recurrent infections with mild symptoms
Graphics: CHONTICHA PINIJROB