Thursday, June 8, 2023
  • Login
The South First
  • Home
  • States
    • Andhra Pradesh
    • Karnataka
    • Kerala
    • Tamil Nadu
    • Telangana
  • Politics
    • Behind the News
  • Entertainment
  • Opinion
  • Health
  • Videos
  • Karnataka Elections 2023
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • States
    • Andhra Pradesh
    • Karnataka
    • Kerala
    • Tamil Nadu
    • Telangana
  • Politics
    • Behind the News
  • Entertainment
  • Opinion
  • Health
  • Videos
  • Karnataka Elections 2023
No Result
View All Result
The South First
No Result
View All Result

Home » Health » BF.7: All you need to know about the Omicron subvariant which is causing distress in China

BF.7: All you need to know about the Omicron subvariant which is causing distress in China

Three cases of Omicron subvariant BF.7, apparently the strain driving China's current surge of Covid cases, have been detected in India so far, official sources said Wednesday.

Sumit JhabySumit Jha
Published:21/12/2022 8:53 pm
A A
BF.7

The Omicron subvariant BF.7 was first detected in Northwest China. (Creative Commons)

Three cases of Omicron subvariant BF.7, the strain apparently driving China’s current surge of Covid-19 cases, have been detected in India so far.

The first case of BF.7 in India was detected in October by the Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre.

So far, two cases have been reported from Gujarat while one case has been reported from Odisha.

Meanwhile, the Karnataka government is starting to screen international fliers at the Bengaluru airport.

Doctors, meanwhile, have urged caution, and asked people to stay updated with the booster dose of the Covid-19 vaccination.

In the meantime, Chinese cities are currently hit by the highly transmissible Omicron strain, mostly BF.7, which is the main variant spreading in Beijing and is contributing to a wider surge of Covid infections in that country.

30) 📍UPDATE—China 🇨🇳’s chief epidemiologist now says that “the worst is yet to come”, @selinawangtv. There will likely be 3 big 🇨🇳 #COVID19 waves coming—this is just the first. ➡️Next big wave will come after the Lunar new year travels in late January!pic.twitter.com/ULM89h2Eq3

— Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) December 21, 2022

The BF.7 subvariant

The Omicron subvariant BF.7 was first detected in Northwest China.

It is extremely fast-spreading and has already been detected in several other countries, including the US, the UK, and European nations such as Belgium, Germany, France, and Denmark.

It can cause severe infection among masses since Omicron BF.7 is a sub-lineage of the Omicron variant BA.5 and has the strongest infection ability: It is highly transmissible, has a shorter incubation period, and has a higher capacity to cause reinfection or infect even those vaccinated.

“The BF.7’s high transmissibility in China might be attributed to a low level of immunity in the Chinese population from the previous infection and possibly vaccination too,” a Union health ministry official said. It spreads alarmingly fast (R0 > 10).

In a study, it was found that BF.7 sub-variant has a 4.4-fold higher neutralisation resistance.

But BF7 died down in UK and other countries. It most likely cannot cause severe disease in the countries already affected by #Omicron. India is one.

— Dr. Mukharjee Madivada (@drmssm) December 21, 2022

What about the situation in India?

In the Covid-19 review meeting chaired by Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Wednesday, experts said although there is no overall increase in the Covid-19 caseload as of now, there is a need for continued surveillance to keep track of existing and emerging variants.

“We have already faced a wave of the Omicron variant in our country, when lakhs of cases were reported. We have built our immunity with vaccination and after getting infected. So the risk is very low, but people should not take it easy. If there is any symptom, follow the protocol,” Dr Kiran Madhala from the Government Medical College in Nizamabad, Hyderabad, told South First.

“The second wave was the worst in our country, but we are probably not going to see such a situation because of massive infection plus rapid vaccination. We have hybrid immunity. China is struggling with the virus since 2020 and because of the zero covid strategies their immunity is not like our hybrid immunity. They will face situations like our second wave,” Dr Sanjeev Chandra, a cardiologist in Hyderabad, told South First.

“If there is a new Covid-19 wave in our country, it will be like the third wave: the number of cases will be high but hospital admissions will be very low,” he added.

“The way cases are rising in China, it seems that this wave won’t last for more than a month or two there,” he said.

Symptoms of BF.7

The following are common symptoms of the BF.7 subvariant:

  • Sore throat
  • Chest congestion
  • Fatigue
  • Cough
  • Runny nose

Recommended For You

File photo of political strategist Sunil Kanugolu.
Behind the News

Constantly on the radar in Telangana, Sunil Kanugolu’s team to shift lock, stock, and barrel to Congress-governed Karnataka

June 8, 2023
Eatala Rajendar, Bandi Sanjay Kumar.
News

As discontent simmers, BJP central leadership in a bind over keeping its Telangana flock together

June 8, 2023
Avinash Reddy Viveka case
Andhra Pradesh

Viveka murder case: Supreme Court moved against anticipatory bail granted to YSRCP MP Avinash Reddy

June 8, 2023
Kerala monsoon
Kerala

IMD declares monsoon onset, but experts say progress may be slow; Kerala braces for heavy rains

June 8, 2023
Kerala was ranked sixth in the previous FSI. (Creative Commons)
Kerala

Kerala tops FSSAI’s Food Safety Index, Tamil Nadu slips to 3rd slot. See how other South states fared

June 8, 2023
Kayyara Kinhanna Rai on the cover of the book celebrating his turning 100
Karnataka

Kayyara Kinhanna Rai, the Kannada poet of Kasargod

June 8, 2023

Top Stories

Eatala Rajendar, Bandi Sanjay Kumar.

As discontent simmers, BJP central leadership in a bind over keeping its Telangana flock together

June 8, 2023
Kerala monsoon

IMD declares monsoon onset, but experts say progress may be slow; Kerala braces for heavy rains

June 8, 2023
Kerala was ranked sixth in the previous FSI. (Creative Commons)

Kerala tops FSSAI’s Food Safety Index, Tamil Nadu slips to 3rd slot. See how other South states fared

June 8, 2023

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Sign Up For Our Newsletter

Subscribe to our mailing list to receive daily updates direct to your inbox.

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Like and Follow

Follow @TheSouthfirst

Latest

File photo of political strategist Sunil Kanugolu.

Constantly on the radar in Telangana, Sunil Kanugolu’s team to shift lock, stock, and barrel to Congress-governed Karnataka

June 8, 2023
Eatala Rajendar, Bandi Sanjay Kumar.

As discontent simmers, BJP central leadership in a bind over keeping its Telangana flock together

June 8, 2023
Avinash Reddy Viveka case

Viveka murder case: Supreme Court moved against anticipatory bail granted to YSRCP MP Avinash Reddy

June 8, 2023
The South First

CATEGORIES

  • News
  • Opinion & Analysis
  • Entertainment & Culture
  • Featured
  • Health & Wellness
  • Andhra Pradesh
  • Karnataka
  • Kerala
  • Tamil Nadu
  • Telangana

PAGES

  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

© 2023 The South First

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • States
    • Andhra Pradesh
    • Karnataka
    • Kerala
    • Tamil Nadu
    • Telangana
  • Politics
    • Behind the News
  • Entertainment & Culture
  • Opinion & Analysis
  • Health & Wellness
  • Karnataka Elections 2023
  • Dakshin Dialogues
  • Videos

© 2023 The South First

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our