On March 13, 65, Dr. Chalermchai Boonyaleephan (Dr. Chalermchai), Vice Chairman of the Senate Public Health Commission, posted a private blockdit. “One hundred and eight thousand nine with Dr. Chalermchai” with the message that
Omicron virus (Omicron) has mutated again. It’s a BA.2.2 subspecies, causing a lot of trouble in Hong Kong right now.
Since the outbreak of coronavirus, the first case found on December 31, 2019, with the Wuhan coronavirus (Clade S), causing the first wave of outbreaks in Thailand between January and May 2020. 4,000 infections, 60 deaths.
Subsequently, Thailand had a second wave of outbreaks during December 2020 to March 2021, which is still the Wuhan virus strain (Clade GH: B.1.36.16) with 24,863 infected people and 34 deaths.
Because the corona virus family It is a single genetic material (RNA) virus that is easily mutated by nature.
Thus, it mutated into an alpha strain virus (Clade GRV: B.1.1.7) and later a Delta virus (Clade GK: B.1.617.2) until the third wave of pandemics occurred. of Thailand from April to December 2021 with 2,194,572 cases and 21,604 deaths.
and in the last order There is also a mutation of the coronavirus No. 7 that causes disease.Covid-19 (Covid-19) is an omicron species (Clade GRA : B.1.1.529), resulting in another large outbreak. This is the 4th wave since January 1, 2022 onwards.
So far (11 March 2022), there have been a total of 1,595,460 cases, of which 913,214 are PCR cases and 682,246 cases are ATK, with a total of 1,880 deaths.
The Omicron strain, which is currently the dominant strain of the 4th wave of outbreaks in Thailand, is capable of spreading four times faster than Delta.
However, there are three other subspecies mutations: BA.1, BA.2, BA.3, with subspecies 1 being the dominant strain.
And later there is a subspecies 2, which spreads 30-40% faster than subspecies 1 and now Thailand has found both subspecies. and are finding more and more subspecies 2 sequentially
By academic principles about viruses, it is well known that where there is a lot of infection or where the virus is multiplying. will have a lot of mutations until able to be born into a new species whether the main species or subspecies
Hong Kong is currently experiencing a huge coronavirus outbreak. Found the statistics number of infections and deaths increased to a record high. and new species were detected which is separated from subspecies 2, hence the name BA.2.2
Hong Kong’s 7-day average number of infections is 17.2 times that of Thailand, 5,425 per million inhabitants, compared to 315 per million inhabitants.
And the death toll that is 35.3 times more than Thailand is 30 deaths per million population. Thailand found 0.85 deaths per million population.
Therefore, it is assumed that The BA.2.2 subspecies could be responsible for the high number of infections and deaths in Hong Kong.
Because Hong Kong and Thailand are both infected with the Omicron virus. But Hong Kong’s is now a BA.2.2 species, while Thailand has not yet found it.
Another factor that may cause events in Hong Kong. It would be a subject at risk for vaccination rather less.
Virus subspecies BA.2.2 mutates at the amino acid spike at position 1221, changing from isoleucine to threonine.
The case in Hong Kong As a result, our world is still at risk of continual covid outbreaks. with a new virus which may be the main species Or it may be a natural subspecies.
Thailand, therefore, it is necessary to keep a close eye on this matter.
As for the forecast that the situation will be lighter or endemic. It seems that it is difficult to find clarity at the moment.
must be careful Let’s continue to take care of preventing the entry of BA.2.2 virus, especially those traveling from Hong Kong and England.