As new Omicron subvariant spreads, WHO backs masks sporting on lengthy flights

Nations ought to take into account recommending passengers put on masks on long-haul flights to counter the most recent Omicron subvariant given its speedy unfold in the USA, World Well being Group (WHO) officers mentioned on Tuesday.

In Europe, the XBB.1.5 subvariant of the virus that causes COVID-19 is being detected in small however rising numbers, WHO/Europe officers mentioned at a press briefing.

Passengers needs to be suggested to put on masks in high-risk settings resembling long-haul flights, mentioned WHO’s senior emergency officer for Europe, Catherine Smallwood, including: “This needs to be a advice issued to passengers arriving from anyplace the place there’s widespread COVID-19 transmission.”

XBB.1.5 — essentially the most transmissible Omicron subvariant that has been detected to this point — accounted for 27.6 per cent of COVID-19 instances in the USA for the week ending Jan. 7, U.S. well being officers have mentioned.

It stays unclear if XBB.1.5 will trigger its personal wave of infections all over the world. Present vaccines proceed to guard in opposition to extreme signs, hospitalization and demise, specialists say.

“Nations want to have a look at the proof base for pre-departure testing,” Smallwood mentioned, noting it was essential to not focus solely on one specific geographic space.

If motion is taken into account, she mentioned, “our opinion is that journey measures needs to be carried out in a non-discriminatory method.”

That didn’t imply the company really useful testing for passengers coming from the USA at this stage, she mentioned.

Measures that may be taken embody genomic surveillance, and concentrating on passengers arriving from different international locations so long as it doesn’t divert assets away from home surveillance programs. Others embody wastewater monitoring programs round factors of entry, resembling airports.

Issues variant will result in bounce in instances

XBB.1.5 is one more descendant of Omicron, essentially the most contagious — and now globally dominant — variant of the virus that causes COVID-19. It’s an offshoot of XBB, first detected in October, which is itself a recombinant of two different Omicron subvariants.

Issues about XBB.1.5 fuelling a recent spate of instances in Canada, the USA and past are on the rise similtaneously a surge of COVID instances in China, after the nation pivoted away from its signature “zero COVID” coverage final month.

In line with knowledge reported by WHO earlier this month, an evaluation by the Chinese language Middle for Illness Management and Prevention confirmed a predominance of Omicron sublineages BA.5.2 and BF.7 amongst regionally acquired infections.

Many scientists — together with from WHO — imagine China is probably going under-reporting the true extent of its outbreak.

Greater than a dozen international locations — together with Canada and the USA — are demanding COVID exams from travellers from China.