China COVID Outbreak: All you need to know about the BF.7 Omicron

An unprecedented Covid-19 increase is currently occurring in China, and the country’s healthcare system is already overwhelmed. Several nations have begun preparing, however it is difficult to predict how China’s deteriorating condition may affect health issues across the world.

Since most people in China were not exposed to the variation and hence lack immunity, the reason being China implemented a stringent zero Covid policy at the beginning of the pandemic. The nation experienced a huge increase in instances among the susceptible population as a result of the abrupt reopening. The Omicron sub variant BF.7 is being held responsible for the present increase in cases in China and certain European nations. 

The World Health Organization (WHO) announced in November 2021 that Omicron, a new type of threat, was present in the world. The entire globe witnessed how it altered the pandemic’s course and strained numerous countries’ health systems.

Delta was swiftly replaced by Omicron as the major variety, and BF.7 is one of the new sub-variants of Omicron that was later identified by researchers. The full name of the BF.7 Omicron sub-variant is BA.5.2.1.7. The BF.7 sub-variant of Omicron that is prevalent in China is the cause of the present spike in Covid-19 infections. This isn’t the first time BF.7 has been in the spotlight; back in October, it began to displace the main variations in the US and several other European nations.

The Covid-19 situation in China and across the world is predicted to deteriorate over the winter months.

Difference between BF.7 and the other Omicron sub variants: 

Despite the fact that all the omicron sub variants are all highly transmissible, replicate in the upper respiratory tract, and generally result in less severe disease than earlier variants of concern, the World Health Organization believes that the sub-lineages of Omicron are not found to be very different from the other Omicron sub variants. However, they all contain mutations that make it easier for them to overcome innate immunity.

Symptoms: 

However, so far, the researchers have discovered that the symptoms shown by an individual with BF.7 infection are identical to those shown by those with other Omicron sub variants. The most typical Covid-19 symptoms, according to ZOE Health Study, which is striving to progress research on the condition quickly, are:

• Sore throat 
• Runny nose
• Blocked nose
• Sneezing
• Cough with or without phlegm
• Headache
• Hoarse voice
• Muscle aches and pains
• Altered sense of smell

Epidemiologists are concerned that the type of infection found in China may alter this. According to the theory, more infections equal more chances for the virus to reproduce and emerge in new forms. At this moment, it is difficult to predict whether the currently available vaccines or the herd immunity accrued thus far would be sufficient to protect us from any potential new variety.