There is some strong suggestion that a new wave of vaccine resistant SARS-CoV2 Omicron variant BQ.1.1 has rapidly replaced variant BA.5 to a large extent, not entirely but substantially in the United States. BQ.1.1 is moving fast across the population.
The most concern scientists are showing is over the active variants that are direct descendants of BA.5, according to the World Health Organization (see chart below).
Now that there is a vaccine booster shot targeting BA.5, it is becoming less of a problem as another strain takes over.
In Ontario, Canada, “pediatric ICUs are 10% over-capacity (10 November 2022). Parents need guidance from our elected and public health officials,” says Dr. Michael Warner.
“We don’t have recent genetic data for Canada, but we have information from the USA.
“The BQ strains were first seen in Canada in September according to medical scholars there.
“According to regional data, the Canadian province of Quebec is seeing the BQ.1 and the BQ.1.1 and also Ontario has likely seen these variants in significant numbers, not just a handful of cases,” said Dr. Harris.
“The U.S. Centers for Disease Control at the end of October showed that two variants—BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 were accounting for nearly 20 percent of bio-samples genetically sequenced in the USA. That was a huge increase over a month earlier when the variants were non-existent with BA.5 and BA.4.6 being the most visible strains in the USA,” said the biostatistician. “Now the latter two strains are declining fast.”
“A variant called XBB has been seen in a wave through Australia and Southeast Asia. It’s not exactly taking over but it is launching a new wave. XBB is a “recombinant”, the result of two different Omicron subvariants, Centaurus and BA.2.10.1 sharing elements. The combination is a marked improvement for its transmissibility. Compared to BQ.1.1 and BQ.1, we see many spike-protein changes that XBB have in common with the former two strains,” said the CSPAC boss.
“In the USA as of 5 November, the BA.5 strain still leads the pack at 39.2% of infections.
“By 5 November, BQ1.1 was fast on the rise at 18.8% and BQ.1 at 16.5% of infections. (See chart below.)
“BA.4.6 has dropped to 9.5% of USA infections. These data are changing daily with BQ1.1 rising fast.
“It seems to escape all vaccine immunity and all previous-infection-induced resistance. But as with other strains, the vaccines are effective in muting the infection response such that serious illness in some patients is averted, according to teh data we have seen so far. That too can change because the number of people receiving booster shots is plummeting,” said Dr. Harris whose information is based on statistical evidence.
When asked what people can do to avoid infection, he responded saying, “Wear a good mask, a NIOSH certified N-95 or equivalent whenever encountering groups of people not from one’s own home. And get boosted!”
variant DATA converted from Tableau” width=”1200″ height=”675″>
The above graph is an image converted from a CDC Tableau presentation based on Nowcast which is a model that estimates more recent proportions of circulating variants and enables timely public health action. CDC is providing weekly Nowcast estimates which will be updated every week on Friday. by Rosa Yamamoto / Feminine-Perspective-Magazine. Note: A new graph will be released on Saturday, 12 November 2022, and it is expected to show a substantial shift upwards by BQ.1 and BQ1.1 with corresponding drops in BA.5 and BA.4.6.
13 Dec 2024 Details and COVID-19 Infections Summary for Canadian Provinces as Hospitalizations rise dangerously above capacity
Hospitalizations
The Omicron Variants Behind new Hospitalizations
Pango lineage# (+
mutation) |
Relationship to circulating VOC
lineages |
Earliest documented
samples |
| BA.5** (+R346X or +K444X or +V445X or +N450D or +N460X) |
BA.5 sublineages (e.g. BF.7, BF.14, BQ.1, BQ.1.1) |
07-02-2022 |
| BA.2.75 |
BA.2 sublineage |
31-12-2021 |
| BJ.1 |
BA.2 sublineage
(BA.2.10.1.1)
|
06-09-2021 |
| BA.4.6 |
BA.4 sublineage |
20-07-2020 |
| XBB |
Recombinant of BA.2.10.1 and BA.2.75 sublineages, i.e. BJ1 and
BM.1.1.1, with a breakpoint in S1 |
13-08-2022 |
| BA.2.3.20 |
BA.2 sublineage |
15-08-2022 |
Source: Tracking SARS-CoV-2 variants (who.int)
The BioRX report says, “Omicron BA.5 has been the globally dominant SARS-CoV-2 variant and has demonstrated substantial neutralization escape compared with prior variants. Additional Omicron variants have recently emerged, including BA.4.6, BF.7, BA.2.75.2, and BQ.1.1, all of which have the Spike R346T mutation.
“In particular, BQ.1.1 has rapidly increased in frequency, and BA.5 has recently declined to less than half of viruses in the United States. Our data demonstrate that BA.2.75.2 and BQ.1.1 escape NAbs induced by infection and vaccination more effectively than BA.5. BQ.1.1 NAb titers were lower than BA.5 NAb titers by a factor of 7 in two cohorts of individuals who received the monovalent or bivalent mRNA vaccine boosters.
“These findings provide immunologic context for the rapid increase in BQ.1.1 prevalence in regions where BA.5 is dominant and have implications for both vaccine immunity and natural immunity.”
Citing: Substantial Neutralization Escape by the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant BQ.1.1 / Jessica Miller, Nicole P. Hachmann, Ai-ris Y. Collier, Ninaad Lasrado, Camille R. Mazurek, Robert C. Patio, Olivia Powers, Nehalee Surve, James Theiler, Bette Korber, Dan H. Barouch doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.11.01.514722
13 Dec 2024
And here is how to re-use and properly wear an N95 Mask
All of the medical professions FPM.news has been speaking with urge the public to wear an N95 medical mask when mask-wearing is indicated such as indoor settings. Learn how to fit test and use a NIOSH standards N95 respirator indoors near other people and outdoors in crowds to fight off XBB-BQ.1.1-SARS-CoV-2 variants and other variant infections.
Video: Here is how to don and doff your N95 respirator mask, especially when doffing your mask after you have been in high-risk areas. These masks are effective according to the CDC in helping to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Flu, swine flu and avian flu transmission from person to person.
N95 masks are designed to fit firmly over the nose and mouth of the wearer, and properly fitted can provide excellent protection for you and from you.
Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds in a good soap before and after touching your mask. Using a hand sanitizer is an acceptable alternative if done correctly.
Hand Sanitizer Procedure
1. Apply enough sanitizer to completely cover both hands.
2. Rub hands together, palm to palm.
3. Rub back of each hand with palm of other hand.
4. Spread sanitizer over and under fingernails
5. Spread sanitizer between fingers
6. Keep rubbing hands together until they are dry. Do not dry
with a towel.