Mumbai: Experts fear complicated Covid-19 cases in winter

With the onset of winter a few weeks away the emerging Omicron subvariants of COVID19 could trigger multiple symptoms and the existing antiviral medicines might not work on them health experts have said advising the masses to follow COVIDappropriate behaviour Their concerns stem from the rise of subvariants BQ1 and BQ11 which increase the severity of infection seen in parts of Europe and the US since the end of September and the beginning of Octobermiddayrsquos report on FridaymdashExpectant mother Mask up especially in trimestermdashalso pointed to potential challenges for healthcare authorities It highlighted a growing number of newborns succumbing to Multisystem Inflammatory SyndromeNeonates MISN without their mothers having any symptomsConfirming the present situation in the US and Europe Dr Subhash Hira Professor of Global Health at the University of WashingtonSeattle and advisor to WHOTDRGeneva said the new Omicron subvariants have led to an increase in patient inflow including neonates and children suffering from MISN ldquoThe subvariants of Omicron will not only be a challenge to the existing health systems but also the public at large which will be vulnerable to a tsunami of postCOVID disabilities like weak heart weak lungs cloudy brain function mental illnesses kidney pancreas liver diseases etcrdquoAlso Read Mumbai Covid19 cases rise above 100 againDr Hira said subvariant BA5 has so far been prevalent in the US and spreading in India but that could change in the coming weeks He said BQ1 and BQ11 are doubling every week in parts of Europe ldquoWorse emerging studies show that prior exposure to BA5 vaccines and monoclonal antibody drugs may not be able to stop a BQ1 and BQ11 spread That kind of exponential growth can make it the dominant strain globally in an ultrashort timerdquo he saidThe expert added ldquoAs colder weather sets in and facilitates airborne transmission public health experts are keeping a close eye on COVID19 variants that could spell doom and gloom this winterhelliprdquoDr Hira expressed concerns over new strains BA2752 which seems to be spreading quickly in Singapore India and regions of Europe and XBB which is the most antibodyevasive strain tested ldquoRecent reports from the UK suggest that a sore throat is now the dominant symptom of COVID infection rather than fever or loss of smellrdquo he saidlsquoResort to strict measuresrsquoDr Wiqar Shaikh Professor of Medicine Grant Medical College and Sir J J Group of Hospitals said the new subvariants could spark a fresh wave in India as well as the rest of the world similar to Delta and Omicron Quoting a study published in the journal Nature this month he said that past infections and medications are not enough to stop BQ1 and BQ11 infectionsCiting research pointing to a spike in infections caused by BQ1 BQ11 BA 2752 and XBB variants Dr Shaikh urged the Centre and Maharashtra government to bring back the mask mandate ensure social distancing and restrict all public gatheringsHe also expressed surprise at the comments of US President Joe Biden who said that the pandemic is coming to a close and the WHO Chiefmdashldquowe are seeing the end of the pandemicrdquo As per global data the number of per day cases is 80000 United States Italy 44000 Taiwan 46000 and France 66000 and on Thursday the consolidated global number of fresh cases stood at 45 lakh This is enough evidence that ldquothe pandemic is far from overrdquo said Dr ShaikhTesting has gone downAccording to Dr Santosh Bansode HoD Emergency Medicine Wockhardt hospital ldquoBA2752 is quickly spreading in Singapore India and some regions of Europe along with the XBB variant Some research suggests that both these are antibodyevasive strains That means infection caused by these variants will be antibody and drugresistant and we wonrsquot get much protection from our vaccines against these variantsrdquo he saidldquoItrsquos also seen that currently all governments are doing less surveillance and less testing compared to 2020 and 2021 There is a high chance that such variants can easily spread if we donrsquot take precautions Better to continue wearing masks when in crowded places and follow COVIDprotective protocols till we see absolutely zero cases Such variants will keep on coming as viruses keep on mutating Therefore we must always be carefulrdquo added Dr Bansode