Learn about COVID BF.7
Since the COVID variant Omicron emerged in late 2021, it has rapidly evolved into multiple subvariants. One subvariant, BF.7, has recently been identified as the main variant spreading in Beijing, and is contributing to a wider surge of COVID infections in China.
But what is this new variant, and should we be worried? Here's what we know.
BF.7, short for BA.5.2.1.7, is a sub-lineage of the Omicron variant BA.5.
Reports from China indicate BF.7 has the strongest infection ability out of the Omicron subvariants in the country, being quicker to transmit than other variants, having a shorter incubation period, and with greater capacity to infect people who have had a previous COVID infection, or been vaccinated, or both.
To put this into context, BF.7 is believed to have an R0, or basic reproduction number, of 10 to 18.6. This means an infected person will transmit the virus to an average of 10 to 18.6 other people. Research has shown Omicron has an average R0 of 5.08.
The high transmission rate of BF.7, taken with the risk of hidden spread due to the many asymptomatic carriers, is understood to be causing significant difficulty in controlling the epidemic in China.
The symptoms of an infection with BF.7 are similar to those associated with other Omicron subvariants, primarily upper respiratory symptoms. Patients may have a fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose and fatigue, among other symptoms. A minority of people can also experience gastrointestinal symptoms like vomiting and diarrhoea.
BF.7 may well cause more serious illness in people with weaker immune systems. more
But what is this new variant, and should we be worried? Here's what we know.
BF.7, short for BA.5.2.1.7, is a sub-lineage of the Omicron variant BA.5.
Reports from China indicate BF.7 has the strongest infection ability out of the Omicron subvariants in the country, being quicker to transmit than other variants, having a shorter incubation period, and with greater capacity to infect people who have had a previous COVID infection, or been vaccinated, or both.
To put this into context, BF.7 is believed to have an R0, or basic reproduction number, of 10 to 18.6. This means an infected person will transmit the virus to an average of 10 to 18.6 other people. Research has shown Omicron has an average R0 of 5.08.
The high transmission rate of BF.7, taken with the risk of hidden spread due to the many asymptomatic carriers, is understood to be causing significant difficulty in controlling the epidemic in China.
The symptoms of an infection with BF.7 are similar to those associated with other Omicron subvariants, primarily upper respiratory symptoms. Patients may have a fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose and fatigue, among other symptoms. A minority of people can also experience gastrointestinal symptoms like vomiting and diarrhoea.
BF.7 may well cause more serious illness in people with weaker immune systems. more
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People with weak immune systems can die of many other reasons, Covid being one of them. So again, what is the point of creating such a big hungama by the Govt and its paid press? more
Dec 22
Rumours by social media and pharma companies to do their business should not be supported. more
Dec 22
rumor mills in fill operations mode: https://www.reuters.com/article/factcheck-covid-xbb-idUSL1N3271RH Be conscious of exaggeration and fake news more
Dec 22
Despite the fact that CHINA alone is responsible for spreading this disease, not a single country in the world says anything to China about this....DO you know why? ..... Because it is the USA who are responsible for this calamity with active involvement of China.... that too PFIZER in the USA, who created the lab responsible for this nuisance/ disease. more
Dec 22
