China CDC epidemiologist: New variants of SARS-CoV-2 are possible, WHO seeks to amend International Health Regulations
Research, editing : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA
News on disease control, CCP, Taiwan, WHO
News (1) to (5) / Reporter : Lin Yuxuan / https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/world/breakingnews/4180022 / Image :The Wuhan pneumonia (covid) epidemic broke out in China. Official experts admitted that when the number of local transmission cases is on a certain scale, there is indeed the possibility of new mutant strains appearing. The picture shows the emergency room of a hospital in the city of Fuyang, Anhui Province. (Associated Press)
News (1)
Admit! China CDC epidemiologist: There may indeed be new variants of the virus
Image :The Wuhan pneumonia (covid) epidemic broke out in China. Official experts admitted that when the number of local transmission cases is on a certain scale, there is indeed the possibility of new mutant strains appearing. The picture shows the emergency room of a hospital in the city of Fuyang, Anhui Province. (Associated Press)
Since China loosened the covid epidemic prevention measures in December 2022, the number of people infected has risen sharply. Henan Province, the third largest province with a population of 99.4 million, announced on 9 January 2023 that as of 6 January, the province's infection rate had reached 89%, including 89.1% in urban areas and 88.9% in rural areas. The downward trend continues, and it is judged that the peak of the epidemic has passed.
News (2)
Xu Wenbo: 31 virus subclades including BQ.1 are spreading in China
Xu Wenbo, director of the Institute of Virology of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, claimed at the end of last year that there was no Delta outbreak in China, and no virus mutations. Since early December last year, a total of 31 virus subclades have appeared in China, including BQ.1, which is spreading rapidly abroad. , XBB, etc., all belong to the Omicron variant virus, no characteristic genome mutations have been found, and all of them were imported from abroad.
News (3)
Wu Zunyou: Close attention to the possibility of new mutated strains in China is needed
Since China has consistently downplayed or even concealed the severity of the epidemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) and Western experts have called on China to increase transparency and share information related to the virus. Wu Zunyou, chief epidemiologist at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC), admitted in an exclusive interview with "CCTV News" on 8 January 2023 that when the number of cases transmitted in China is on a certain scale, there is indeed the possibility of new mutated strains, and close attention is needed.
News (4)
Zhang Wenhong: Downgrading to "B and B" is to prepare for endemic epidemics
Zhang Wenhong, director of the China National Center for Infectious Diseases and director of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Huashan Hospital affiliated to Fudan University, claimed that the covid epidemic in China is changing from a pandemic to an endemic epidemic. Some places have just passed the peak, and some have just ushered in the peak. The downgrade of covid epidemic prevention measures from "Class B and A" to "B and B" is to prepare for endemic epidemics, which means that the number of infected people will increase significantly but the prevalence rate will gradually decrease.
News (5)
CCP is not qualified to criticize Western control measures
At least a dozen countries around the world imposed entry and exit controls on Chinese tourists, which aroused dissatisfaction from the Beijing authorities and threatened to take corresponding retaliatory measures. However, Jennifer Nuzzo, director of the Pandemic Center at the Brown University School of Public Health in the United States, believes that given the scale and transparency of the current outbreak in China, it is understandable that countries are tense and trying to slow down the import of the virus. Ben Cowling, a professor at the School of Public Health of the University of Hong Kong, also said that China still continues to require immigrants to show negative nucleic acid test certificates, and is not qualified to criticize Western control measures, not to mention that Beijing has implemented the world's most punitive and stringent tourism policies limit.
News (6)
Not too much? Official: About 8% of China's pneumonia caused by covid
Reporter : Chen Chengliang / https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/world/breakingnews/4179570 / Image : Hospitals at all levels are overcrowded after China eased the covid prevention and control measures. The picture shows the scene of a hospital in Shanghai. (Reuters)
The National Health Commission of China (National Health Commission) issued an announcement on the 26th of last month, changing the name of "novel coronavirus pneumonia" to "novel coronavirus infection", mainly based on the fact that Omicron mainly affects the upper respiratory tract, it is unlikely to enter the lungs. According to Chinese officials, less than 10% of patients with Wuhan pneumonia (covid, COVID-19) in China have symptoms of pneumonia, about 8%, which is quite low. In this regard, some Chinese netizens questioned that the denominator was seriously underestimated!
Due to the opacity of the epidemic situation, rumors have recently circulated on the Chinese Internet that people infected with the epidemic in Beijing have developed "big white lungs". It is suspected that it is not the Omicron, which is mostly mild, but the original virus or other hidden version of the big devil.
However, according to Chinese official and academic statements, the main virus strains currently prevalent in China include BF.7 (mainly in Beijing), BA.5.2 (mainly in Guangzhou and Shanghai), and BQ.1 and XBB that recently appeared in Europe and the United States, and no new ones have been found. mutant strain.
On 8 January 2023, China's CCTV news program "Morning News" broadcast an interview with Jiao Yahui, director of the Department of Medical Affairs of the National Health Commission. Jiao Yahui said that patients with mild COVID-19 will have some symptoms such as fever, cough, and sore throat but mild patients do not have pneumonia.
She pointed out that the common type is pneumonia. Judging from the classification of Omicron clinical cases in China in 2022, the proportion of pneumonia is still quite low, less than 10%, about 8% but Jiao Yahui reminded that as the base of infection increases, the absolute value of pneumonia also increases. China has a large population base, "no matter how low the proportion is, if it becomes an absolute value, it will be a large number."
This period of pneumonia accounted for 8% of the interviews sparked heated discussions on Weibo. Some netizens estimated: "Based on a 50% infection rate, 700 million people are infected, and there are 56 million (people) pneumonia, which is not lower." At the same time, some people sarcastically: "Isn't it mild and asymptomatic? 99%?"
Some netizens also criticized that many people were infected but did not seek medical treatment, and there were many patients who did not undergo computerized tomography (CT). Given that the number of mothers may be seriously underestimated, this proportion is "unbelievable."
News (7)
Sent back to Taiwan in critical condition! Taiwanese businessman shouted "return to the mainland" after being rescued and recovered. The doctor was helpless: The businessman didn't even say thank you
Editor : Lin Baohong / https://news.tvbs.com.tw/life/2013330 / Image : Su Yifeng, a thoracic physician of Beijing United Medical College. (Photo/TVBS)
The outbreak of the novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) has lasted for more than 3 years, especially in mainland China. Taiwan announced that it will fully conduct saliva screening for passengers entering from the mainland since New Year's Day. A few days ago, Su Yifeng, a thoracic physician of Beijing United Medical College, who posted an X-ray of "big white lung" on his personal Facebook PO, has mentioned another Taiwanese businessman returned to Taiwan for medical treatment. After the Taiwanese businessman woke up in the hospital, he did not even say "thank you", and even angrily said that he should be discharged from the hospital as soon as possible to "go back to the mainland."
Su Yifeng posted and shared photos on Facebook on 6 January. A Taiwanese businessman who came back from the mainland developed a large white lung. The other party was diagnosed by himself after 3 days of returning, but he did not seek medical attention immediately. He was given antiviral drugs later, but still the progress of the disease could not be stopped, and he was already intubated and critically ill.
Unexpectedly, today, Su Yifeng once again posted on Facebook. He mentioned that another Taiwanese businessman was unconscious and critically ill in mainland China, and was sent back to Taiwan for treatment. He was saved. Unexpectedly, after the Taiwanese businessman woke up in the hospital, he did not even say a word of thanks.
Su Yifeng then mentioned that after the Taiwanese businessman woke up, he became angry and said that he wanted to return to the mainland, and he also demanded that he be discharged from the hospital as soon as possible, and that the hospital staff immediately contact his son to help him out of the hospital. As for the day he was discharged from the hospital, Su Yifeng asked the family members, "Do you want him to go back to China?" The family members said, "No, go to a nursing home!"
As soon as the case came out, it immediately sparked heated discussions and responses. Many people said sarcastically, "The illness of this Taiwanese businessman is not in his lungs, but in his brain." Waiting for him over there; some netizens said dumbfounded, "What an exaggeration! There is no thanks to the savior, not even the most basic thank you, it is really chilling."
The proportion of local epidemic 2 mutant strains has increased, and nearly 70% of China's entry-diagnosed BA.5
Image : The results of the virus sequencing of the latest covid cases were announced. Both local and overseas imports were dominated by BA.5, but BA.2.75 and BF.7 both rose. (Picture provided by Command Center)
The virus sequencing results of the latest covid cases in the Republic of China (Taiwan) are announced. Both local and overseas imports are dominated by BA.5, but both BA.2.75 and BF.7 are on the rise; As for Chinese inbound tourists to Taiwan, a total of 59 cases have been sequenced, including 40 cases of BA.5, accounting for 68%, and 19 cases of BF.7, accounting for 32%, which is equivalent to 2 out of every 3 people are BA.5, 1 person is BF.7.
Luo Yijun, deputy head of the Medical Response Team of the Central Epidemic Command Center, pointed out that 47 new local cases have been sequenced, of which 26 were BA.5, accounting for 55%, which also included the death of an 8-year-old boy announced last week. , a total of 13 males and 13 females, ranging from under 5 years old to over 90 years old, distributed as 15 cases in the north, 5 cases in the middle, 4 cases in the south, and 2 cases in the east. December 29. The rest were 13 cases of BA.2.75, accounting for 28%, followed by 4 cases of BF.7, 3 cases of BA.2, and 1 case of BQ.1.
Luo Yijun pointed out that BQ.1, which originally accounted for a rapid increase from 3% to 14%, only remained at 2%. Instead, BA.2.75 and BF.7 both rose, BA.2.75 rose from 19% to 28%, and BF. 7 increased from 5% to 9%.
In terms of overseas immigration, 87 new cases have completed virus sequencing, including 54 males and 33 females, ranging in age from less than 5 years old to more than 70 years old. Among them, 51 cases of BA.5 came from 40 cases in China, 4 cases in Japan, 3 cases in Hong Kong and South Korea, and 1 case was infected in the national investigation; 21 cases of BF.7 came from 19 cases in China and 2 cases in Japan; 10 cases of BA2.75 4 cases from Japan, 3 cases from Thailand, 2 cases from the United Kingdom, and 1 case from South Korea; 4 cases of BQ.1 from the United States, Thailand, the Netherlands and Germany; 1 case of XBB from the Philippines.
News (9)
BA.5 predominates Chinese inbound covid cases, Taiwanese with "large white lung" still under investigation
In terms of countries, Luo Yijun pointed out that a total of 59 cases of Chinese inbound tourists to Taiwan have been sequenced, including 40 cases of BA.5, accounting for 68%, and 19 cases of BF.7, accounting for 32%.In a hospital in the north, there was a case of a Taiwanese businessman with large white lung, which is still under investigation and will be explained if there is a sequencing result.
For the rest of the overseas imports excluding China, 11 cases of BA.5, 10 cases of BA.2.75, 2 cases of BF.7, 4 cases of BQ.1, and 1 case of XBB were detected, but this case is XBB.1, not the XBB.1.5, which has attracted the attention of the outside world and has become popular in the United States.
News (10)
Follow-up detection of Chinese airliner wastewater? Wang Bisheng: We use more stringent saliva PCR
Reporter : Qiu Zhirou / https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/life/breakingnews/4179503 / Image : Recently, various countries have strengthened the control of incoming Chinese passengers. Some countries have chosen to test the toilet waste water of Chinese airliners. As for whether my country will follow up, the commander of the command center Wang Bisheng emphasized that the Republic of China (Taiwan) is currently adopting a more stringent saliva PCR test, which targets passengers one by one. (Picture provided by Command Center)
Recently, the covid epidemic in China has intensified. Countries have stepped up control of inbound passengers. Some countries have chosen to test the toilet wastewater of Chinese flights. Whether the Republic of China will follow up Wang Bisheng, commander of the Central Epidemic Command Center, emphasized that at present, Taiwan is adopting a more stringent saliva PCR, which tests passengers one by one.
Wang Bisheng explained that the main purpose of testing wastewater is to know whether the passengers on the plane have viruses still in their bodies. After excretion, they will go to the waste water tank. The current wastewater inspection technology is very good, as long as there is a little bit, it can be detected, but this only means There are many passengers who are infected, for example, on the current flight from CCP China, it is obvious that there will be.
Wang Bisheng emphasized that since the outbreak of the epidemic, wastewater monitoring in domestic communities has continued to be carried out. Currently, for flights from China, the domestic method is more accurate than wastewater testing, and saliva PCR is carried out for passengers one by one. Of course not for a long time, whether to do wastewater monitoring in the future can be considered.”
The Chinese New Year is approaching and the borders of various countries are opening up. Chinese people are planning to travel abroad. What is the current risk of flying? Wang Bisheng also said that the risk is higher when taking off the mask to eat and use the toilet on the plane, but he also wants the public not to worry too much , As long as you do a good job of hand disinfection, the risk of infection will be reduced.
Wang Bisheng said that the risk of infection by flying is indeed higher than other fields, mainly because the space on the plane is relatively small, the distance between people is very close, the time is long, and the shared bathroom, etc. , which are more prone to risk of infection.
He suggested that the circulatory system on the plane has a sterilization device, and that masks should be worn during times other than eating and drinking, and that hands should be cleaned and disinfected after using the restroom, so that the risk of infection will be greatly reduced.
WHO seeks to amend international health regulations through a secretive committee
A secretive World Health Organisation (“WHO”) committee is scheduled to meet for five days beginning today. The purpose of these meetings will be to finalise their report regarding the proposed amendments to the International Health Regulations (“IHRs”).
These meetings will not be live-streamed. The proceedings will not be available to the public. No public comment period is scheduled. Your opinion regarding these amendments is not going to be considered. These rules are being negotiated by the members of the International Health Regulations Review Committee (“IHRRC”), who were chosen, not elected.
A relatively simple and relatively inexpensive way to gain power and authority over much of the world could be accomplished through a binding international treaty that transfers sovereignty over certain matters from individual nations to an international body like the WHO. To further this ambition, WHO is taking two steps. One step is to amend its IHRs. In case the IHR amendments did not work, WHO will rely on its Pandemic Treaty. Both the IHR amendments and the Pandemic Treaty need to be stopped.
WHO’s IHRRC is planning to meet in secret from Monday, 9 January 2023, to Friday, 13 January 2023. The IHRRC will be working to finalise what is now a 46-page document that includes proposed amendments to the International Health Regulations (“IHRs”). The amendments have been submitted by a mere 14 nations. The work done by the IHRRC is “confidential” and it answers directly and only to WHO’s Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. IHRRC plan to submit its amendments to WHO on 15 January 2023.
Change the overall nature of the WHO from an advisory organisation that merely makes recommendations to a governing body whose proclamations would be legally binding. (Article 1)
Greatly expand the scope of the IHRs to include scenarios that merely have a “potential to impact public health.”
Seek to remove “respect for dignity, human rights and fundamental freedoms of people.” (Article 3)
Give the Director General of the WHO control over the means of production through an “allocation plan for health products” to require developed states parties to supply pandemic response products as directed. (Article 13A)
Give the WHO the authority to require medical examinations, proof of prophylaxis, proof of vaccine and to implement contact tracing, quarantine and treatment. (Article 18)
Institute a system of global health certificates in digital or paper format, including test certificates, vaccine certificates, prophylaxis certificates, recovery certificates, passenger locator forms and a traveller’s health declaration. (Articles 18, 23, 24, 27, 28, 31, 35, 36 and 44 and Annexes 6, 7 and 8)
Redirect unspecified billions of dollars to the Pharmaceutical Hospital Emergency Industrial Complex with no accountability. (Article 44A)
Allow the disclosure of personal health data. (Article 45)
Greatly expand the WHO’s capacity to censor what they consider to be misinformation and disinformation. (Annex 1, page 36)
Create an obligation to build, provide and maintain IHR infrastructure at points of entry. (Annex 10)
The 76th World Health Assembly is scheduled to occur from Sunday 21 May 2023 to Tuesday 30 May 2023. In order for the proposed amendments to be considered during the 76th World Health Assembly, they must be submitted to the WHO at least 4 months in advance.
The IHRRC plans to submit these proposed amendments to the WHO by Sunday, 15 January 2023.
The IHRs are existing legally binding international law. If the proposed amendments are presented to the 76th World Health Assembly, they could be adopted by a simple majority of the 194 member nations. According to the already agreed-upon rules of the IHRs, if the proposed amendments are adopted, the member nations would not need to take any additional actions. The United States Senate would not be required to provide a two-thirds vote to give their “advice and consent.” No signatures by national leaders would be needed.
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