The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) today warned that a new strain of the micron variant could become dominant in Europe by December, potentially causing an increase in infections.
ECDC forecasts that “BQ.1 and its sub-line BQ.1.1 will become dominant in the EU/EEA (EU and EEA) between mid-November and early December 2022,” the European Center said. In a statement.
If this prediction is confirmed, there may be an increase in the number of cases of covid-19 in Europe in the coming weeks, according to the epidemiological update released today.
Preliminary laboratory studies in Asia indicate that BQ.1 has the ability to evade the immune system response, but according to the available data, “there is no evidence that it can be associated with increased severity of infection compared to the BA.4 and BA.5 by μM variants”, Emphasis on ECDC.
According to the latest report by the Ricardo Jorge Institute (INSA), the underlining of BQ.1.1 has increased in Portugal, reaching 4.9% in recent weeks.
ECDC said it expects BQ.1 (along with subline BQ.1.1) to be responsible for more than 50% of infections by early December, and the prevalence is expected to rise to 80% by early 2023.
The European Center added that “at least five EU/EEA countries detected trading” BQ.1 in the week of October 3-9, adding that France, Belgium, Ireland, the Netherlands and Italy were the countries with the highest percentages in the samples collected. .
Outside the EU/EEA, the countries with the highest percentages in samples collected in early October are Switzerland (9%) and the United Kingdom (8%).
He stressed that “countries must remain vigilant for signs of the emergence and spread of BQ.1 and maintain representative testing”, as well as monitor Covid-19 case rates and indicators of hospitalization, particularly in people aged 65 and over. quoted in the statement.
William Shakespeare is a journalist and feature writer specialising in culture, entertainment, history, and current affairs. With a keen eye for storytelling and analysis, he produces informative articles that help readers understand the people, ideas, and events influencing modern life.
