The number of asymptomatic infections has "increased at least 6 times". Intensivist: Omicron has made "the whole world relax"
The local epidemic breaks out again! The Epidemic Command Center announced on March 27 that there were 83 new local cases of new coronavirus pneumonia and 120 overseas cases. The confirmed cases this time can be said to be “blooming everywhere”, with footprints in Taoyuan, Keelung, Taitung and other places, all making people panic. Dr. Huang Xuan, an expert in critical care medicine, bluntly stated in a social post that Omicron’s “invisible transmission” characteristics can be said to have made people and public health units around the world “too lax.”
Omicron virus evades PCR detection? “Two powerful weapons” allow it to continue to wreak havoc around the world
Dr. Huang Xuan cited the content of the journal “Science” and explained: As early as 2020, scientists discovered that the main transmission route of the new coronavirus is the invisible transmission chain. Research shows that asymptomatic infections are 55% more likely to spread the virus than symptomatic infections. In addition, nearly 79% of symptomatic people diagnosed with COVID-19 became ill through invisible transmission chains.
Dr. Huang Xuan said that at that time, the new coronavirus had no mutations, which caused a large scale of infection, and Omicron virus was the “leader” in asymptomatic infection. Omicron’s current lineage branch viruses are BA.1, BA.2 and BA.3; among them, the characteristics of the “BA.2” stealth variant are not only difficult to be distinguished by diagnostic tools, but can even “evade” certain PCR tests, making The probability of “false negative” test results has increased significantly.
Now that the Omicron-BA.2 virus has spread all over the world, Danish health officials estimate that the BA.2 virus may be 1.5 times more contagious than BA.1; the British Health Safety Authority also pointed out that the BA.2 virus has the same characteristics as all Omicron viruses. The highest “household transmission rate” is roughly estimated at 13.4%.
Dr. Huang Xuan said that compared with the “predecessors” of COVID-19, such as Alpha and Delta viruses, which are more likely to cause higher risks of severe illness and death, although Omicron symptoms are milder and the fatality rate is relatively low, through the “invisible chain of transmission” " and “asymptomatic infection”, these two powerful weapons, still cause a lot of casualties around the world. Dr. Huang Xuan took South Africa as an example: during the Delta epidemic, the number of asymptomatic infection cases was only 2.6%, but during the Omicron epidemic, the number of cases surged to 16%, and the total number of infections “increased at least 6 times.”
Is it too early to let down your guard? “Three groups” are still exposed to virus threats
The most deadly thing is that during the Omicron pandemic, many people went to work and took transportation as usual without obvious symptoms, causing their family members and colleagues to continue to spread the virus invisibly; if things go on like this, regional invisible transmission chains will soon By then, the whole world may be under the shadow of asymptomatic infections.
“The virus transmission chain may be in the community or even in your room, and you have no idea!” Dr. Huang Xuan pointed out that even if Omicron may have less subsequent impact on young patients or those who have been vaccinated, it will The elderly, patients with chronic diseases or those who have not yet been vaccinated will undoubtedly pose a huge threat.
Dr. Huang Xuan reminded that even if the epidemic caused by Omicron in Taiwan is not as serious as that abroad, the public should still maintain a sense of crisis. “Human beings are sentient, but viruses are ruthless! As long as the invisible transmission chain continues to exist, we cannot easily relax our vigilance.”
source:
Sisonke (Together): OPEN LABEL TRIAL COVID-19 (Sisonke)
Further reading:
Is the “4th dose” effective against Omicron? Israeli study says benefits may be ‘minimal’
