Cctv newsOn 19th, the official WeChat of the National Bureau of Disease Control and Prevention released a question and answer about the EG.5 mutant in Covid-19.
1. What is the Covid-19 EG.5 mutant?
The mutant EG.5, a subfamily of XBB.1.9.2 in Omicron, Covid-19, was first discovered in Indonesia on February 17th, 2023. On July 19th, the World Health Organization (WHO) listed it as a "variant under monitoring" (VUM), and on August 9th, it was adjusted to a "variant of interest" (VOI), which strengthened the global assessment of the characteristics and public health risks of EG.5 mutant. At present, there are three Covid-19 strains listed as VOI in the world, including EG.5 mutant, XBB.1.5 mutant and XBB.1.16 mutant, all of which belong to XBB mutant series.
2. What are the changes in the biological characteristics of EG.5 mutant?
The proportion of EG.5 mutant strains in the global epidemic strains increased rapidly, showing a stronger transmission advantage. Studies at home and abroad show that the epidemic advantage of EG.5 mutant is mainly due to its enhanced immune escape ability, and the neutralizing ability of neutralizing antibodies produced by previous infections to EG.5 mutant is reduced.
According to the monitoring data in China, there is no significant difference in clinical typing between EG.5 mutant infected people and other XBB subfamily infected people. Recently, the number of hospitalized cases in some countries (such as the United States, Japan, South Korea, etc.) where EG.5 mutant is prevalent has increased, but there is no report that the disease severity has increased due to infection with EG.5 mutant. The World Health Organization (WHO) assessed on August 9th that the mutant EG.5 showed the characteristics of enhanced transmission ability and immune escape ability, but found no evidence of obvious changes in its pathogenicity, and did not cause a significant increase in global public health risks. Based on the existing evidence, the global risk level of EG.5 mutant was assessed as low risk.
3. What is the prevalence of EG.5 mutant in the world?
Since may, the proportion of EG.5 mutant strains in the global epidemic strains has increased rapidly. As of August 17th, the mutant strain EG.5 has been monitored and found in at least 52 countries or regions around the world. According to the epidemic situation in all continents, except for the few uploaded sequences in Africa, the proportion of EG.5 mutant strains in Asia, Europe, Oceania, North America and South America showed an obvious upward trend.
4. What is the epidemic situation of EG.5 mutant in China?
The monitoring results in China show that the proportion of EG.5 mutant strains in Covid-19 is on the rise, from 0.6% in April to 71.6% in August. At present, it has formed a dominant epidemic in most provinces in China, and this trend is likely to continue in the future. China’s 4-mdash this year; In June, it experienced the epidemic of XBB series mutants in Omicron, and the established population immunity still has the immune protection effect on EG.5 mutants belonging to XBB subfamily in Omicron. Recently, the epidemic situation of COVID-19 in the whole country is in a low level and wave-like epidemic situation, and the epidemic situation has brought less pressure on the medical system in various places, so there will be no large-scale epidemic in the short term.
5. How can the public do personal protection?
Like preventing other Covid-19 Omicron mutant infections, the public should continue to maintain good personal hygiene habits, adhere to regular work and rest, keep the room clean and tidy, often open the window for ventilation, exercise scientifically, ensure a healthy diet and improve the body’s immunity. It is suggested that the public, especially the severely high-risk groups such as the elderly and patients with serious basic diseases, should do personal protection and wear masks scientifically when taking public transport or going to crowded indoor public places.