Omicron subvariant BA.5 is highly contagious but containable: Successful experience from Macau
IntroductionDue to its high transmissibility and immune escape, Omicron subvariant BA.5 has become the dominant strain of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and led to escalating COVID-19 cases, how to cope with it becomes an urgent issue. A BA.5 infection surge burst out on 18 June 2022 and brought an unpreceden...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2022.1029171/full |
| _version_ | 1797956420471095296 |
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| author | Cong Xu Jue Wang Lili Yu Xinbing Sui Xinbing Sui Qibiao Wu Qibiao Wu Qibiao Wu |
| author_facet | Cong Xu Jue Wang Lili Yu Xinbing Sui Xinbing Sui Qibiao Wu Qibiao Wu Qibiao Wu |
| author_sort | Cong Xu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionDue to its high transmissibility and immune escape, Omicron subvariant BA.5 has become the dominant strain of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and led to escalating COVID-19 cases, how to cope with it becomes an urgent issue. A BA.5 infection surge burst out on 18 June 2022 and brought an unprecedented challenge to Macau, the most densely populated region worldwide. This study aimed to analyze the characteristics of this outbreak and summarize the useful anti-epidemic measures and experiences during this outbreak.MethodsAll data were obtained from the Government Portal of Macao SAR (https://www.gov.mo), and the Special Webpage Against Epidemics, the Macao Health Bureau (www.ssm.gov.mo). An epidemiologic study was performed to analyze epidemic outcomes, including the infection rate, the proportion of symptomatic cases, the case fatality ratio (CFR), etc. Data were analyzed using SPSS Version 20. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. The anti-epidemic measures and experience were reviewed and summarized.ResultsThe BA.5 outbreak resulted in 1,821 new cases, which was significantly more than the cumulative cases of the previous variants of COVID-19 in Macau. The symptomatic cases accounted for 38.71% of the total cases, which was higher than that of the previous variants. After 6-week concerted efforts, Macau effectively controlled the outbreak, with an infection rate of 0.27%, which was much lower than many BA.5-attacked regions. The CFR was approximately 0.86%, which was not statistically different from that of previous variants. Six victims were chronically ill senior elders and their vaccination rate was much lower than the average level. Macau took a comprehensive anti-epidemic strategy to win a quick victory against BA.5, especially the “relatively static” strategy that was first formulated and applied by Macau for the management of the COVID-19 pandemic. Successful experience showed that although BA.5 was highly contagious, it could be contained by comprehensive anti-epidemic measures, including adequate anti-epidemic preparation, herd immunity through vaccination, repeated mass nucleic acid tests and rapid antigen tests, KN-95 mask mandate, the “relatively static” strategy, precise prevention and control, epidemiological investigation and tracing, and traditional Chinese medicine treatment, etc.DiscussionIn Macau, compared with the previous subvariants, BA.5 is associated with increased transmissibility and a higher proportion of symptomatic cases, however, the risk of death remains similar, and the infection rate is much lower than that in many other BA.5-attacked regions. BA.5 is highly contagious but still containable, Macau's experience may offer hints for the regions experiencing the BA.5 waves to choose or adjust a more rational anti-epidemic strategy. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T23:48:46Z |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T23:48:46Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
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| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-1100013b65d14f18954f092a9eccda1b2023-01-10T20:19:53ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652023-01-011010.3389/fpubh.2022.10291711029171Omicron subvariant BA.5 is highly contagious but containable: Successful experience from MacauCong Xu0Jue Wang1Lili Yu2Xinbing Sui3Xinbing Sui4Qibiao Wu5Qibiao Wu6Qibiao Wu7Faculty of Chinese Medicine, University Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, Macao SAR, ChinaFaculty of Chinese Medicine, University Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, Macao SAR, ChinaFaculty of Chinese Medicine, University Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, Macao SAR, ChinaCollege of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, ChinaDepartment of Medical Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, ChinaFaculty of Chinese Medicine, University Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, Macao SAR, ChinaZhuhai Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST) Science and Technology Research Institute, Zhuhai, Guangdong, ChinaGuangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Contaminants Exposure and Health, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, ChinaIntroductionDue to its high transmissibility and immune escape, Omicron subvariant BA.5 has become the dominant strain of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and led to escalating COVID-19 cases, how to cope with it becomes an urgent issue. A BA.5 infection surge burst out on 18 June 2022 and brought an unprecedented challenge to Macau, the most densely populated region worldwide. This study aimed to analyze the characteristics of this outbreak and summarize the useful anti-epidemic measures and experiences during this outbreak.MethodsAll data were obtained from the Government Portal of Macao SAR (https://www.gov.mo), and the Special Webpage Against Epidemics, the Macao Health Bureau (www.ssm.gov.mo). An epidemiologic study was performed to analyze epidemic outcomes, including the infection rate, the proportion of symptomatic cases, the case fatality ratio (CFR), etc. Data were analyzed using SPSS Version 20. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. The anti-epidemic measures and experience were reviewed and summarized.ResultsThe BA.5 outbreak resulted in 1,821 new cases, which was significantly more than the cumulative cases of the previous variants of COVID-19 in Macau. The symptomatic cases accounted for 38.71% of the total cases, which was higher than that of the previous variants. After 6-week concerted efforts, Macau effectively controlled the outbreak, with an infection rate of 0.27%, which was much lower than many BA.5-attacked regions. The CFR was approximately 0.86%, which was not statistically different from that of previous variants. Six victims were chronically ill senior elders and their vaccination rate was much lower than the average level. Macau took a comprehensive anti-epidemic strategy to win a quick victory against BA.5, especially the “relatively static” strategy that was first formulated and applied by Macau for the management of the COVID-19 pandemic. Successful experience showed that although BA.5 was highly contagious, it could be contained by comprehensive anti-epidemic measures, including adequate anti-epidemic preparation, herd immunity through vaccination, repeated mass nucleic acid tests and rapid antigen tests, KN-95 mask mandate, the “relatively static” strategy, precise prevention and control, epidemiological investigation and tracing, and traditional Chinese medicine treatment, etc.DiscussionIn Macau, compared with the previous subvariants, BA.5 is associated with increased transmissibility and a higher proportion of symptomatic cases, however, the risk of death remains similar, and the infection rate is much lower than that in many other BA.5-attacked regions. BA.5 is highly contagious but still containable, Macau's experience may offer hints for the regions experiencing the BA.5 waves to choose or adjust a more rational anti-epidemic strategy.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2022.1029171/fullsuccessful experienceMacauOmicron subvariant BA.5“relatively static” strategyanti-COVID-19containable |
| spellingShingle | Cong Xu Jue Wang Lili Yu Xinbing Sui Xinbing Sui Qibiao Wu Qibiao Wu Qibiao Wu Omicron subvariant BA.5 is highly contagious but containable: Successful experience from Macau Frontiers in Public Health successful experience Macau Omicron subvariant BA.5 “relatively static” strategy anti-COVID-19 containable |
| title | Omicron subvariant BA.5 is highly contagious but containable: Successful experience from Macau |
| title_full | Omicron subvariant BA.5 is highly contagious but containable: Successful experience from Macau |
| title_fullStr | Omicron subvariant BA.5 is highly contagious but containable: Successful experience from Macau |
| title_full_unstemmed | Omicron subvariant BA.5 is highly contagious but containable: Successful experience from Macau |
| title_short | Omicron subvariant BA.5 is highly contagious but containable: Successful experience from Macau |
| title_sort | omicron subvariant ba 5 is highly contagious but containable successful experience from macau |
| topic | successful experience Macau Omicron subvariant BA.5 “relatively static” strategy anti-COVID-19 containable |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2022.1029171/full |
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