The State Health Surveillance Center and SES-RS (Rio Grande do Sul State Health Department) detected the first case of the subvariant Ômicron BQ.1 in the state. Underlining is associated with the recent increase in Covid-19 cases in Europe and, in Brazil, it has already been located in Amazonas and Rio de Janeiro.
According to SES-RS, the subvariant was identified last Friday (4th), in the sample of a patient residing in the metropolitan region of Porto Alegre and hospitalized in the capital for treatment of severe acute respiratory syndrome.
In view of the confirmation, the secretariat informed that it will intensify the genetic sequencing of the samples to understand the dynamics of transmission of the subvariant in the region and reinforced the importance of vaccines.
“The BQ.1 variant has shown a transmission capacity that worries health authorities in different countries. This variant has been related to the increase in the numbers of new cases in different regions.”, said in a note Richard Steiner Salvato, coordinator of Surveillance. Genomics in the state.
“The main concern is in relation to that portion of the population that is late or has not had the booster doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, as these individuals are more susceptible to contracting the disease, but also having a more severe presentation”, he added. Salvato. In Rio Grande do Sul alone, there are more than 3 million people with delayed booster doses.
In addition to the need to complete the vaccination schedule, the folder reinforced measures such as wearing a mask and carrying out tests to confirm the diagnosis.
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