“Since the peak of the Omicron wave, the number of shared sequences has increased dropped by more than 90 percentand the number of countries sharing sequences has dropped by a third.” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, during his recent media briefing.
The WHO chief reminded that the first sequence of SARS-CoV-2 causes the virus COVID-19was shared with the world three years ago, enabling the development of tests and vaccines against the disease.
“We call on all countries experiencing intense transmission now increase sequencingand to Share these sequences,” he said.
Experts evaluate new variant
A WHO Advisory Group has published an assessment of the new Omicron subvariant XBB.1.5, which first surfaced last October.
Sequences from 38 countries have been reported, but mostly from the United States.
“Based on its genetic traits and early estimates of growth rate, XBB.1.5 may contribute to an increase in case incidencesaid the Technical Advisory Group on Virus Evolution (TAG-VE).
“So far, overall confidence in valuation is low as growth benefit estimates come from only one country, the United States of America.”
Unacceptable death rate
Tedros also emphasized this importance of testingwhich is critical both for tracking variants and for ensuring adequate care for individuals at risk.
Since February 2022, the number of weekly reported COVID-19 deaths has fallen by almost 90 percent, but has hovered between 10,000 and 14,000 since mid-September.
“The world cannot accept this number of deaths if we have the tools to prevent them,” he said.
Last week, 11,500 people died from COVID-19 worldwide, but “that figure is almost certainly an underestimate given China’s underreporting of COVID-related deaths,” he added.
Countries are also being urged to provide better data on who is dying from the disease. Currently, only 53 out of 194 nations provide data disaggregated by age and gender.
Most deaths are among high-risk groups, with nearly 90 percent of all deaths reported in the last six months of 2022 in people aged 65 and over.
A mother in the city of Raqqa, Syria, collects medicines for her children suffering from diarrhea and also receives instructions on how to sterilize water to protect against cholera.
Widespread cholera outbreaks
Tedros started the briefing by celebrating the end Ebola epidemic in Uganda.
He also welcomed the passing this week of a Security Council resolution Expansion of cross-border assistance for another six months from Türkiye to north-west Syria.
Syria, Haiti and Malawi are among 31 countries battling devastating cholera outbreaks that are both more widespread and deadlier than normal.
“While we have had major cholera outbreaks before, we have never seen so many simultaneous outbreaks,” said the WHO chief.
“The common denominator for many of these outbreaks is climate-related eventslike storms, floods and droughts.”
China’s commitment continues
WHO continues to ask China for more information on the ongoing COVID-19 surge.
The UN agency is working with authorities to fill important gaps, including in understanding transition dynamics, breaking down increases or decreases in hospitalizations, virus sequencing and differences in death rates between urban and rural areas.
“The WHO still believes that deaths from China are severely underreported and this is in relation to the definitions used but also in relation to the need for doctors and those in the public health system to be encouraged to identify these cases report, and don’t get discouraged.” said Dr. Mike Ryan, Executive Director.
He also commended China’s efforts, citing measures such as expanding designated beds in intensive care units and prioritizing the use of antivirals early in the disease course.
“There is also a shift in definition away from COVID pneumonia as a reporting disease to COVID infection as the primary basis for disease reporting, and we hope this will encourage more reporting – and more reporting about the.” true situation on the WHO soil in China,” said Dr. Ryan.
“Long COVID” strain
In the meantime, more research is needed to better understand the human health burden of post-COVID-19 disease worldwide.
Although many people recover from the disease, some patients have persistent symptoms in many different body organs and for long periods of time, giving way to the condition commonly known as “long COVID”.
Experts from across WHO collaborate with colleagues worldwide in the different types of clinical management of cardiac care, brain health and respiratory health.
“Our aim is to ensure that this is the case Recognizing the post-COVID-19 state, in which this can be described and analyzed,” said Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, Head of Agency for COVID-19.
The WHO has already published a case definition for long COVID, which is being adjusted to cover children, but it said: “A lot more work needs to be done in this area, including Recognition, research and rehabilitation.”
Mask yourself indoors
WHO has encouraged people everywhere to continue wearing masks, such as in crowded spaces or places where ventilation is poor or unknown.
dr Van Kerkhove explained that the transmission of the coronavirus depends on factors such as the distance between people, the environment, ventilation, the time spent in each place and the risk reduction measures taken.
“There are a number of other factors that are also important, but Masks are one of the measures we recommend when you are indoors when you cannot keep your distance,” She said.
“This is one of the recommendations we continue to recommend, and we are working with governments to tailor usage to the right types of contexts.”
