THE Covid-19 outbreak in Singapore with NB.1.8.1 variant spreading there is unlikely to affect Thailand because this variant has already circulated here since last year and most Thai population do have immunity to the disease, according to Dr. Yong Poovorawan, head of the Centre of Excellence in Clinical Virology at the Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, PPTVHD36 said today (May 25).
People in Thailand need not panic because this disease has not become more severe with the mortality rate being similar to that of the flu. Almost all of the Thai population already has immunity to this disease, reducing its severity. Most children infected have mild symptoms and develop immunity, except for very young children. Generally, young children receive immunity from their mothers during the first six months, he said on Facebook.
The NB.1.8.1 variant has mutated significantly globally, reaching variants like those with the letter R, especially RV.1.
He emphasised that the Singaporean outbreak is seasonal while in Thailand, over the past two years, the outbreak has been most evident after Songkran, starting from the end of April onwards, peaking in May and June, before gradually declining in August and remaining sporadic thenceforth.
Regarding the variants circulating in Thailand, data from the past two years clearly shows that the NB.1.8.1 variant, which originated in Singapore, had spread in Thailand since the beginning of last year and since then subsided. Therefore, the variant expected to spread this year is unlikely to be this one.
However, this year is unusual because despite Songkran celebrations attracting the usual crowds of revellers joining water fights, there was no major Covid outbreak after the festival ended. Cases have only recently begun to appear in large numbers and are expected to increase further, especially as schools have reopened and students will act as catalysts for a quick jump in total cases. It is believed that this outbreak is occurring concurrently with other respiratory viruses such as influenza and rhinovirus (the common cold), Dr. Yong said.
“We are currently monitoring the variant and will release further information later. We believe it is a variant that has definitely evolved further from NB.1.8.1.
“Regarding the cicada strain, which the World Health Organization (WHO) identified as a strain under surveillance two months ago, it is currently not causing any problems and has disappeared. However, the severity of the disease is similar to other common respiratory illnesses,” he said.
The number of cases reported by the Public Health Ministry is significantly lower than the actual total because cases detected at home or not detected at all are not reported to the ministry. Most reported cases are those found in hospitals, resulting in very low figures.
Dr. Yong added that his centre is currently monitoring the detection rate of respiratory illnesses, particularly the eight types of viruses that cause these diseases and will release a report soon.
As the severity of Covid has decreased and it is now like other seasonal respiratory illnesses, the need for vaccination too has dwindled significantly. Moreover, Covid vaccines are 10 times more expensive than flu vaccines and those who want a shot would have to pay for it themselves. Furthermore, Covid vaccines have more side effects than flu vaccines, particularly fever.
Dr. Yong added that the need for a Covid shot is minimal compared to the annual one for flu.
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Representative images of Covid-19 virus. Above photo – India Today, Front Page – Ecdc.europa.eu
Insert: Dr Yong Poovorawan. Photo: INN News
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