Research, editing : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA
News on covi traceability, disease control, Nigeria, South Africa, U.S., UK, CCP
News (1) to (17) / Source of Reports : Daily Mail / Images : Daily Mail, otherwise stated
News (1)
Omicron covid appeared in Nigeria in October - weeks before South Africa announced discovery of variant, new tests reveal
Nigeria has confirmed its first cases of Omicron Covid and revealed it was in the country in October, weeks before South Africa alerted the world to its existence.
Three Omicron cases were detected in travellers who arrived in Nigeria from South Africa within the past week, the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control said today.
However Dr Ifedayo Adetifa, the agency's director, added that retroactive testing of covi samples collected in recent weeks had identified another case of Omicron dating back to October.
It means that Omicron - designated a 'variant of concern' by the WHO and believed to be the most-infectious form of covi variant yet found - was likely circulating undetected for weeks before first being identified.
If confirmed, the Nigerian case would be the earliest-known Omicron infection - rewriting the timeline of the variant's origins.
However, it does not necessarily mean the variant emerged in Nigeria because it is unclear how or why the sample was collected. Dr Adetifa did not give details.
Nigeria - in western Africa - extensively tests travellers into and out of the country, meaning it is possible the case was imported from overseas.
The discovery of Omicron in Nigeria in October 2021 has broken the assumption that the variant first emerged in southern Africa where it was detected on 23 November 2021 by South African scientists in a sample collected from Botswana on 9 November 2021.
Nigeria's three recent cases were all in travellers from South Africa who had taken a Day 2 PCR test, with samples collected within the last week.
It is unclear when exactly the samples were collected. Nigeria said efforts are underway to track and isolate the individuals.
Analysts had suspected the virus was already circulating in Nigeria, after two Canadians returning from the country had tested positive for the variant last week.
The pair were Canada's first confirmed cases of the variant, though experts warned at the time that Omicron has probably already circulated widely.
'I think it's fair to say that this variant probably emerged weeks or even months ago,' infectious disease expert Dr. Isaac Bogoch said last week.
'And by the time you start identifying it, it's usually pretty widespread, especially for a very contagious respiratory viral infection like this.'
News (2)
The first sample of Omicron collected from Botswana on 9 November 2021, the ones from Nigeria come later
The discovery of Omicron in Nigeria in October 2021 has broken the assumption that the variant first emerged in southern Africa where it was detected on 23 November 2021 by South African scientists in a sample collected from Botswana on 9 November 2021.
News (3)
The Netherlands found Omicron in sample on 19 November 2021
The discovery comes just a day after after Dutch health authorities said they also found a case of Omicron in a sample collected on 19 November 2021, four days before South Africa sounded the alarm.
In the Netherlands, scientists from the RIVM health institute said their first cases were found in samples dated between 19 and 23 November 2021, without disclosing how or why either sample was collected.
It is not yet clear whether these people had also visited southern Africa,' health officials said.
News (4)
Much still unknown about Omicron
Much is still not known about the variant, which is the most-mutated form of covi variant yet uncovered by scientists.
Several of the mutations suggest the variant will be more infectious than the previously-dominant Delta strain, even in vaccinated people.
Data from South Africa, where cases have ballooned 400 per cent in a week, also seems to suggest Omicron is more infectious.
However huge question marks remain, including whether Omicron causes more or less severe forms of infection.
News (5)
Omicron could be a blessing in disguise
Prominent health figures, including the man in the running to be Germany's next health minister, have suggested that Omicron could end up being a blessing in disguise if it turns out it causes less severe infections.
This is because it would out-compete and replace the deadly Delta strain, while landing fewer people in hospital.
So-far, the WHO has not reported any deaths from Omicron - though information is still in the very early stages and the UN body has urged caution.
News (6)
German contacts Omicron infection without leaving Germany nor coming into contact with anyone
Authorities in the eastern German city of Leipzig said Tuesday they had confirmed an infection with the Omicron variant in a 39-year-old man who had neither been abroad nor had contact with anyone who had been, news agency dpa reported.
Leipzig is in the eastern state of Saxony, which currently has Germany's highest overall coronavirus infection rates.
Meanwhile, Japan and France announced their cases of the new variant on Tuesday (1 December 2021).
News (7)
Muscle pain and fatigue of Reunion Omicron patient
French authorities confirmed its presence in the French island territory of Reunion in the Indian Ocean.
Patrick Mavingui, a microbiologist at the island's research clinic for infectious diseases, said the person who has tested positive for the new variant is a 53-year-old man who had traveled to Mozambique and stopped in South Africa before returning to Reunion.
The man was placed in quarantine. He has 'muscle pain and fatigue,' Mavingui said, according to public television Reunion 1ere.
News (8)
Namibian in Japan's first case of Omicron infection
A day after banning all foreign visitors as an emergency precaution against the variant, Japan also confirmed its first case, in a visitor who had traveled from Namibia.
A government spokesperson said the patient, a man in his 30s, tested positive upon arrival at Narita airport on Sunday and was isolated and is being treated at a hospital.
Many other countries are imposing travel bans from Africa.
News (9)
Cambodia forbids 10 African nationals' entry
Cambodia barred entry to travelers from 10 African countries, citing the threat from the variant.
The move came just two weeks after Cambodia reopened its borders to fully vaccinated travelers.
News (10)
WHO: Accelerate covi vaccinations as quickly as possible
While it has urged against border closures, the WHO has stressed that while scientists are hunting evidence to better understand this variant, countries should accelerate vaccinations as quickly as possible.
WHO said there are 'considerable uncertainties' about the omicron variant. But it said preliminary evidence raises the possibility that the variant has mutations that could help it both evade an immune-system response and boost its ability to spread from one person to another.
Despite the global worry, doctors in South Africa are reporting patients are suffering mostly mild symptoms so far but they warn that it is early and most of the new cases are in people in their 20s and 30s, who generally do not get as sick from covid as older patients.
Symptoms of Omicron infection
Tiredness, muscle aches, high temperature, dry cough, scratchy throat, headache and high pulse rate
News (11)
First case of Omicron variant in the U.S. identified on 1 December 2021
The first case of the Omicron covi variant has been detected in the U.S., Dr. Anthony Fauci announced on Wednesday (1 December 2021).
The case was identified by the San Francisco Departments of Public Health in California and confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Fauci said the individual had returned from South Africa on 22 November 2021 and tested positive a week later on 29 November 2021.
He or she was fully vaccinated but had not received a booster and is currently experiencing mild symptoms.
"The individual is self quarantining and all close contacts have been contacted and all close contacts thus far have tested negative. The individual was fully vaccinated and experienced mild symptoms which are improving at this point," Fauci told reporters during a briefing.
At a separate press conference, Governor Gavin Newsom said the patient is between the ages of 18 and 49.
News (12)
Omicron challenges Biden's presidency
The new covi variant Omicron / Covi29 is the latest challenge to Biden's presidency, which has been buffeted by repeated setbacks.
"The new Omicron variant is a real threat to Biden's standing with the public," Clifford Young, of the Ipsos polling company, told Fox News on Tuesday.
"He won the election on covid, surfed the covid wave for the first part of the year and was hurt by the Delta variant.
"Omicron could further weaken the president heading into the midterms."
The most recent Fox News poll found that 48% of respondents approve of Biden's handling of the pandemic, compared with 49% who disapprove.
His ratings have crashed since earlier 2021 when 64% approved and 34% disapproved in May and June.
Biden has suffered setbacks this week, with three major court losses this week vaccine mandate rules across the country.
His approval numbers will likely worsen further
Young said, "America has become more optimistic with anticipation of an end to covid, and any check on this trend will negatively impact confidence overall and in Biden more specifically."
Leaders around the world are scrambling for an anti-Omicron strategy as they wait for scientists to assess the risk and for pharmaceutical companies to lay the groundwork for new vaccines or boosters.
On Monday, Biden said Covi29 is a "cause for concern not a cause for panic." A day later he said, "On Thursday, I'll be putting forward a detailed strategy outlining how we're going to fight covid this winter, not with shutdowns or lockdowns but with more widespread vaccinations, boosters, testing and more."
There is no sign yet that existing vaccines will be any less effective at preventing hospitalizations and deaths, the official told Reuters.
News (13)
Judges halt Biden's vaccine mandates as they are unconstitutional
Even so, Biden's strategy is under intense pressure as opponents take to their case to the courts.
On Tuesday, a federal judge in Louisiana halted a national mandate that certain health care workers be vaccinated.
That came a day after the mandate was blocked in 10 states by a court in Missouri and shortly after a Kentucky court overturned another rule aimed at federal contractors in three states.
News (14)
U.S. considers mandatory quarantine for vaccinated tourists
Travelers would not be able to forgo the potential quarantine mandate, even with a negative covi test or full vaccination and booster shot, according to the Washington Post.
Any imposition of financial penalties for refusing to comply would mark the first time federal fines are linked to quarantine and testing measures for U.S. travelers.
Biden's tentative plan would also require everyone entering the country to be tested one day before boarding flights, regardless of their vaccination status or country from which they're leaving. Another requirement could force all travelers to get tested again within three to five days of arrival.
While the U.S. currently requires covi testing of all travelers entering the country, regardless of vaccination status, vaccinated travelers have three days before departing to have their test conducted. Unvaccinated travelers currently must conduct their test no more than one day before their flight.
One of the officials said the new rules could be as soon as next week.
The U.S. CDC proposed the two testing mandates in a draft public health order that is currently being reviewed by Biden and the Department of Health and Human Services.
The quarantine measures are not in the CDC's draft but could be added later if they gain more support, the anonymous officials told the Washington Post.
The CDC is considering a range of measures to protect Americans against Covi29, such as "how to make international travel as safe as possible, including pre-departure testing closer to the time of flight, and considerations around additional post-arrival testing and self-quarantines," CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said during a White House Covid briefing on 1 December 2021.
She added that the CDC was also expanding surveillance programs at four major airports to test for covid from specific international arrivals.
Celine Gounder, a health expert who was part of Biden's covid response transition team, urged the administration to put forth stricter measures, "If it were up to me, to fly you should be fully vaccinated and we should also be testing 24 hours prior to flight," she told the Washington Post.
News (15)
Triple-vaccinated Israeli doctor caught Omicron in London
According to the report published in Daily Mail, Elad Maor, 45, travelled to London on 19 November 2021 and stayed at a hotel in Islington while attending the three-day convention at ExCeL London in Newham, east London, before returning to Israel.
The father-of-three, who is a cardiologist at Sheba Medical Centre near Tel Aviv, tested positive for the virus four days later, on 27 November, and suffered mild symptoms including a sore throat, fever and muscle ache. He took three PCR tests on November 20, 21 and 24 - all of which came back negative. After returning to work in Israel he later displayed symptoms and took a fourth PCR test which showed a positive result.
Dr Maor, who is now quarantining at home in Israel, appears to be certain that he picked up the variant while attending the conference, saying, "I got the Omicron in London, for sure.'"
His comments come as Dr. Anthony Fauci announces the first detected case of the Omicron variant in the US, saying it was identified by the San Francisco Departments of Public Health in California.
Meanwhile in the UK, in rules now enshrined in law until March, Boris Johnson said that masks must be worn in shops and on public transport to "buy us time in the face of this new variant".
News (16)
No evidence Omicron has impact on vaccine protection against severe covid
A World Health Organization official offered grounds for hope on Wednesday, saying that most Omicron were mild and that there was no evidence the new variant has any impact on vaccine protection against serious illness.
A spokesperson for the global health agency said early data suggest the mutant strain is better at infecting people than Delta, even the fully vaccinated.
The Omicron variant/Covi29 was first identified by South African researchers last week and is believed to have originated in Botswana.
It has 50 mutations, more than 30 of which are on the spike protein, used by the coronavirus to enter and infect cells.
By comparison, the Delta variant - still the predominant variant in the U.S. - has two mutations on the spike protein.
Early evidence suggests it is more transmissible than previous variants but it is unclear if it causes more severe illness or death.
Doctors in South Africa have reported anecdotally that patients infected with Omicron appear to have mild symptoms, such as a dry cough, fever and night sweats, but say they don't want to draw conclusions just yet.
However, South Africa's daily covid cases have been rapidly rising, doubling in a day, but hospital admissions have remain flat.
Data from the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) shows there were 8,561 new covid cases recorded on Wednesday, a jump of 95.8 percent in a single day from 4,373 and 571.5 percent in a week.
Genetic analysis of Omicron's mutations has raised fears that the new variant could be the most dangerous and infectious variety yet.
News (17)
Two weeks to work out the effectiveness of covi vaccines against Covi29
Scientists say it will take two weeks to truly work out how effective existing covi vaccinations are against Covi29, which has twice as many mutations on its spike protein as Delta. The strain is expected to make current vaccines significantly weaker at preventing infections, but it is less clear how it will impact hospitalizations and deaths.
Refs: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10262197/Omicron-Covid-Nigeria-says-case-new-variant-dates-October.htm, Omicron arrives in US: CDC finds first case in California as Biden says there is no cause for panic | Daily Mail Online, Israeli doctor believes he caught Omicron Covid variant in London on 23 November | Daily Mail Online
News (18) to (19) / https://www.ntdtv.com/gb/2021/12/01/a103282461.html
News (18)
Covid cases are rapidly rising, Manzhouli is severely affected
The covid epidemic in Manzhouli in the Hulunbuir League of Inner Mongolia continues to aggravate, and the number of confirmed covid cases have risen rapidly. On 1 December 2021, the National Health Commission of the Chinese Communist Party officially announced that there were 113 new confirmed cases that day, of which 91 were local cases, all in Manzhouli, Hulunbuir League. Because the CCP has consistently falsified data, the outside world is also full of doubts about whether this epidemic data is true.
At present, Manzhouli has 6 high-risk areas, 4 medium-risk areas, and 47 closed communities, among which the closed communities are “no-going” areas.
At the same time, the Manzhouli virus transmission chain is also spreading outwards. On 1 December 2021, it has spread to five regions in the two provinces of Inner Mongolia and Heilongjiang.
The local people told The Epoch Times that the severe epidemic in Manzhouli has caused the entire Hulun Buir League to strictly control vehicles and people entering and leaving the city. Every town is strictly controlled because there are too many close contacts and the situation is very serious.
On 1 December 2021, Manzhouli also started the fourth round of nucleic acid testing. Local officials claim that those who refuse to undergo nucleic acid testing will be "held accountable."
News (19)
European Parliament hearing, members call for boycott of CCP's live organ harvesting
On November 29, the European Parliament held a hearing to focus on the CCP’s continued large-scale live harvesting of prisoners of conscience. At the meeting, the parliamentarians asked the European Union and all international organizations to take joint actions to combat the crime of organ harvesting from prisoners of conscience.
Sir Geoffrey Nice QC, the chairman of the "China Court", an independent group responsible for investigating the CCP’s allegations of live organ harvesting, said at the meeting: “There is no doubt that (the CCP’s) live organ harvesting has been confirmed. "This means that people will be killed, Falun Gong practitioners will be killed, all their organs will be harvested, and they will be sold on the commercial market."
Martin Elliott, Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery at University College London, is a member of the "Chinese Court" team. He explained to European parliamentarians the multiple evidence involved in the conclusion of the Chinese court. One of them is: In China, “the number of registered donors (organs) has always been significantly lower than the number of transplant operations,” he said, which means that there is a “hidden organ donor bank”.
Isabel Santos, a member of the Human Rights Subcommittee of the European Parliament, said that the annual number of organ transplants provided by Professor Elliott "really shows" that China's organ transplants are carried out "on an industrial scale."
News (20)
The U.S. military confirms that both the U.S. and China are building and testing the next generation of hypersonic weapons
Reporter : Chen Beichen / Editor: Hu Long / https://www.ntdtv.com/gb/2021/12/01/a103282638.html
U.S. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall (Frank Kendall) confirmed on Tuesday (30 November 2021) that Beijing and Washington are racing to build and test the next generation of hypersonic weapons. He believes that the current competition between the United States and China "is on quality rather than quantity."
"There is an arms race, not necessarily in terms of quantity. This arms race has been going on for some time in terms of continuously improving (arms) quality. China (the CCP) has worked very hard in this regard," Kendall told Reuters. Say.
After the top U.S. general and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Mark Milley, confirmed in October that after Beijing had conducted at least one very special hypersonic weapon system test, the Pentagon announced that month that the U.S. military had successfully conducted several tests. Hypersonic weapon test.
In October 2021, the U.S. Navy successfully tested a rocket booster engine, which will be used to propel the launch vehicle and carry hypersonic weapons. Hypersonic weapons travel through the atmosphere at more than five times the speed of sound, or about 6,200 km per hour.
Kendall pointed out that the US military budget in the past was mainly concentrated in Iraq and Afghanistan, so that hypersonic weapons did not receive enough attention, but "this does not mean that we have done nothing, but that we have not done enough."
So far, the United States has a world-class missile defense system, but its design is based on ballistic missiles with fixed parabolic trajectories. Hypersonic missiles, because of their fast flight speed, low flight altitude, and strong penetration capability, bring new challenges to the existing missile defense system.
As the Pentagon enters its annual budget cycle in 2023, Kendall hopes to raise funds by "retiring" old systems with high maintenance costs and then replacing them with new systems, including hypersonic development plans.
Kendall said, "I like the A-10. The C-130 is a powerful aircraft that is very capable and very effective in many missions. The MQ-9 fighter jets are very effective in anti-terrorism and other aspects. They are still useful. But none of these things can deter China."
Reuters pointed out that the three major U.S. defense contractors, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Raytheon Technologies, have responded to the latest needs of the U.S. Department of Defense and put in a new round of technical competition on the research and development of hypersonic weapon systems. The unit price of each hypersonic weapon system currently under development is as high as tens of millions of dollars.
The report said that in addition to the United States, it is believed that CCP China, Russia and at least five other countries are also developing hypersonic missiles.
The British newspaper "Financial Times" quoted five sources on 16 October 2021 as reporting that the CCP tested a very special hypersonic missile this summer; this hypersonic missile, which can carry a nuclear warhead, before attacking its intended target, first fly around the world in low-Earth orbit, and then return to the atmosphere, bypassing or avoiding the US anti-missile system, and flying towards its intended target.
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