Omicron BF.7: Here's Everything You Must Know About the Dominant COVID-19 Variant

The COVID-19 variant known as Omicron BF.7 is currently the most prevalent in China, where the recent surge in cases has come as a shock to the rest of the world. 

The coronavirus, which causes COVID, has been mutating into numerous variants ever since it emerged in 2020. It should also be noted that omicron has outlived the other variants and has been the dominant one for over a couple of years.

The current COVID situation in China is a clear indication that the BF.7 variant is the most contagious. If reports by media sources are to be believed, the BF.7 Omicron variant is quicker to transmit (than all the other known variants), has a shorter incubation period, and can infect people far and away. 

Also, it has been reported that the omicron variant affects all individuals in the same way, regardless of whether or not they have been vaccinated.

How serious is the COVID Omicron BF.7 Variant?

Some recent reports say that in the majority of cases, the BF.7 variant affects the upper respiratory tract. A preprint model predicts that over the next few months, approximately one million deaths could occur around the world owing to this variant. The several symptoms associated with a BF.7 variant-led COVID infection are as follows:

• Runny nose
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Fever

Furthermore, it has been predicted that 85% of the population getting a fourth shot of the vaccine can help slow down the rise in these infections. This can actually benefit more than 95% of the world's population in the age range of 3 to 59 years.

What is the Current COVID Situation in China?

As COVID-19 cases rise in China, a tweet by a noted local epidemiologist is going viral these days. According to their tweet, COVID deaths in China are likely to reach millions. They predict that more than 60% of the population in China will be affected by this new—and probably the strongest—variant in the next three months. Apart from this, they also estimated COVID infection cases for the global population in their tweet.

Further, it must be mentioned that hospitals in China are completely overwhelmed since restrictions have been lifted. Expert epidemiologists estimate that at least 60% of the Chinese population and 10% of the world's population will be infected over the next 90 days. They say that millions of people are likely to lose their lives.

What is the Current COVID Situation in India and the Rest of the World?

The BF.7 variant of the coronavirus has been so far found in four cases in India: two from Gujarat and the rest from Odisha. The fresh Omicron variant has also been found in several other countries, including the United Kingdom (UK), the United States (USA), Germany, Belgium, Denmark, and France, among others.

The Indian government, though advising people to wear masks in crowded places and take other necessary precautions, has said that the people of the nation should not panic at all. Adar Poonawalla, who is the CEO of vaccine manufacturer Serum Institute of India (SII), echoed the same suggestion in public.

After a recent review meeting, the Indian Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Mansukh Mandaviya, said that COVID was still not over and that he had directed all concerned to be alert and strengthen surveillance. He also said that the government was braced to handle any situation that was possibly imminent.

'In light of the recent surge in COVID cases being seen in several countries, including the Republic of Korea, the United States of America (USA), Brazil, Japan, and China, it is essential that we prioritize whole genome sequencing of positive case samples to track the different variants,' reads a letter from Indian Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan to all states.

Conclusion

According to an Indian national news agency, BF.7 is a sub-lineage of the Omicron variant BA.5 and is classified as being even more dangerous than its parent lineage owing to its higher levels of transmissibility, shorter incubation period, and greater capacity to reinfect or infect individuals who have been vaccinated against it. So, it's really important for all of us to stay aware and take all necessary precautions to deal with this new, deadly variant of the COVID virus. We must acknowledge the fact that this is a global situation, and if people fail to take precautions, there could be a serious worldwide epidemic, impairment, and destruction.