XBB, BQ.1 strains will trigger another infection peak? Experts: less likely in the first half of the year

Read Time:2 Minute, 6 Second

Will the XBB and BQ.1 strains that are prevalent in other countries be prevalent in China this spring, triggering another peak of infection? Li Dong, chief physician of the Department of Respiratory and Infectious Diseases at Beijing Youan Hospital, said in an interview with People’s Daily Health Client on January 25 that with the liberalization of China’s immigration policy, there may be more local cases of infection with BQ.1 and XBB strains in the future, but overall, the likelihood of an epidemic of these two strains in the first half of this year is relatively small.

On Jan. 24, police at the Shenyang immigration border checkpoint helped passengers clear customs.

The strain XBB.1.5 has an obvious immune escape and is almost equivalent to a brand new virus. Meanwhile, the BQ.1 strain is also prevalent in many countries.

“Most of our domestic people were infected in December last year and January this year, and the antibodies produced after this infection can protect for at least three or four months, and most people can be protected for more than six months, and by March or April this year, most people should still be in the immune protection period.” Li Dong has pointed out that current research on BQ.1 and XBB shows that although they have a strong immune escape, the strains such as BA.5 that we are currently infected with are still protective against these two strains.

On January 17, Xu Wenbo, director of the Institute of Viral Diseases at the Chinese CDC, also said at a press conference on the State Council’s joint prevention and control mechanism that BQ.1 and XBB have not yet shown transmission dominance in China like BA5.2 and BF7, and that the proportion of BQ.1 and XBB transmission is expected to gradually increase, but will not cause a new round of elevated epidemics alone. Preventing BQ.1 and XBB is the same as preventing other mutant strains, we need to strengthen surveillance of viral mutations and disease severity, etc., to protect high-risk populations and advocate being the first person responsible for their own health.

“There is no need to worry too much about these two strains.” Li Dong had told reporters, “There are already many people who have experienced infection and people have a lot of experience with protection. For now we should still insist on wearing masks, washing hands regularly, opening windows more often and ventilating, and these good hygiene habits should continue.”