Alarm over Covid spike as six fatalities occur within a week.
Warning Sounds Alarm as Covid-19 Cases Surge in Thailand
Awoke by an ominous warning, Thais are on high alert following a surge in Covid-19 infections. Dr Thira Woratanarat, from the Faculty of Medicine at Chulalongkorn University, shared this concern on his Facebook page last Monday. He referenced reports from the Department of Disease Control (DDC) that indicate a troubling upward trend in cases.
Comparing data from the DDC report for the week of May 4 to May 10, Dr Thira noted a staggering increase from 14,680 cases the previous week to a staggering 16,607 cases. To make matters worse, six deaths were reported over the past seven days—twice the number from the week before.
"The DDC report showed an increasing spread of the disease, which was contradictory to the statement that the Public Health Ministry had announced earlier," Dr Thira's post read.
Meanwhile, Dr Yong Poovorawan, a virologist at Chulalongkorn University's Pediatrics Department, also took to Facebook. He confirmed that the new subvariants of Covid-19 are spreading faster and causing milder symptoms. Yet, they can still be treated much like other respiratory diseases.
Reiterating the Public Health Ministry's statement on Saturday, Dr Yong affirmed that while infection rates are high, the virus tends to cause only mild symptoms. However, he cautioned that newer strains of the virus are changing rapidly due to a process called "immune imprinting."
In this process, the body produces antibodies and memory cells that store information about past infections or vaccinations. Newer strains don't respond well to regular vaccinations because the vaccine's protection is limited to older strains of Covid-19.
Consequently, the emergence of these new strains has led to a reduction in the procurement of Covid-19 vaccines for hospitals. Despite the high case numbers, people with Covid-19 are in effect treated similarly to those suffering from other respiratory diseases, with no specific quarantine period set aside.
Newer COVID-19 strains:
The newer strains of Covid-19, such as LP.8.1, XEC, and sub-lineages of XBB and BA.2.86, have evolved from the Omicron lineage. These new strains have acquired mutations in the spike protein that improve their ability to bind to human ACE2 receptors, potentially evading the neutralizing antibodies produced by previous infections and vaccinations.
The faster transmission of these subvariants, combined with their enhanced immune evasion abilities, contributes to ongoing waves of infection despite widespread immunity in the population. Despite causing milder symptoms on average, the continued spread of new strains underscores the importance of ongoing vigilance and adaptive public health measures.
Sources:1. Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand2. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases3. World Health Organization4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention5. Virological Journal
In light of the emerging subvariants of Covid-19 such as LP.8.1, XEC, and sub-lineages of XBB and BA.2.86, the importance of ongoing science, medical-conditions research, and health-and-wellness awareness is emphasized, as these strains possess enhanced abilities to evade existing immunity, causing ongoing waves of infection despite widespread immunity in the population. The medical community, including virologists and doctors like Dr Thira and Dr Yong, are continuously monitoring and sharing updates about these new strains to adapt public health measures accordingly.
