Explained: New Omicron variant BF.7 that may become ‘most severe strain’

The experts have also warned that global numbers may rise considerably in the coming winter months. They have also shared a word of caution saying that the variants are fast-spreading as more cases of these two subvariants have swept to more areas of China.

The variants are slowly sweeping more areas in the country. Shaoguan and Yantai cities have already detected multiple cases. Both the variant of Omicron BA.5.1.7 and BF.7 are highly infectious and can easily break previous immunity, says the Chinese government.

Shanghai and other big Chinese cities, including Shenzhen, have ramped up testing with some local authorities hastily closing schools, entertainment venues, and tourist spots.

BF.7 variant may infect already infected people too

Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has said BF.7 is a subvariant of Omicron BA.5. While BA.5 remains dominant, BA.4.6 and BF.7 have been responsible for over 13 per cent of infections this week in the United States as well. Health experts believe that the BF.7 variant has enhanced immunity evasion which means that it can infect people even if they have been infected with COVID-19 before or have been fully vaccinated.

Martin Michaelis, professor of molecular medicine at the University of Kent, said that BF.7 is currently the Covid variant that is “considered to have the highest potential to cause the next COVID-19 wave, reported UK health security agency.

The World Health Organization (WHO) had earlier warned against the BF.7 variant of Omicron, saying that it expected it to become the new dominant variant. Public health experts have warned that vaccine fatigue and confusion over the types of available vaccines will likely limit booster uptake and as cooler weather arrives, numbers are expected to rise considerably.

The World’s last major economy China is still enforcing strict measures to stop the spread of disease, which aim to stamp out chains of transmission through border restrictions, mass testing, extensive quarantines, and uncompromising snap lockdowns.

WHO data has shown that cases in the European Union reached 1.5 million last week, up 8 per cent from last month. Hospitalisation numbers across many countries in the 27-nation bloc, as well as Britain, have also gone up in recent weeks.

BF.7 might turn into the most severe variant among all

The data shared by the CDC said BF.7 accounts for 4.6 per cent of the total active Covid cases across the US. Whereas BA.5 and BA.4.6 continue to remain as the top two most infectious COVID variants, BF.7 is at the third spot.

Also, BA.2.75 and BA.4 account for 1.8 per cent and 0.8 per cent of the total cases in the US.

This clearly means BF.7 is gaining more severity and might overtake the other two variants soon.