A new wave of coronavirus is expected in the coming weeks, says the EMA

An increase in coronavirus cases was recorded in the European Union and the European Economic Area in the first month of autumn, the Head of the Office of Biological Threats to Health and Vaccine Strategy of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) reported Marco Cavalleri stressing that a new wave of Omicron sub-variants is expected in the coming weeks.

Mr Cavalleri noted that “infections and hospitalizations are increasing in people aged 65 and over”. At the same time, he underlined that “the pandemic is not over and we are still in a global state of emergency, as the WHO said last week” calling on citizens to be vaccinated or proceed with booster doses, especially those who are in high-risk categories and may get sick seriously.

He added that “last week one of Omicron’s variants, called BQ1, was detected in at least five countries in the EU and EEA. According to the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), BQ1 and its subtype, called BQ1.1, will become the dominant strain by mid-November and early December.”

The Head of the EMA’s Office of Biological Health Threats and Vaccine Strategy, said that “it currently remains unknown whether BQ1 will be more contagious or cause more severe disease compared to the BA4 and BA5 subvariants. What is known, however, is that it has an increased ability to escape immunity from vaccination and natural infection, including Omicron, and to resist available monoclonal antibodies.”

“Currently the Omicron BA4/BA5 subvariants still dominate in Europe. However, new variants derived from BA2 and BA5 have appeared in different parts of the world.”Marco Cavalleri pointed out.

“We are also monitoring the new sub-variant called ChBB, which is spreading rapidly in Asia and has already been detected in some European countries,” noted Mr Cavalleri.

He pointed out that there are currently six vaccines for initial vaccination, four adapted and eight treatments for the coronavirus.

RES-EMP

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