XBB may shorten the immune protection period, and key populations should be better protected during the Chinese New Year

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According to the news conference of the State Council Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism held on January 13, from December 1, 2022 to January 12, 2023, one case of the indigenous Omicron variant strain XBB was monitored in China. China is at risk of continued importation of XBB and its subbranches.

Li Dong, chief physician of the Infection Integration Department at Beijing Youan Hospital, told People’s Daily Health Client that the clinical manifestations of XBB virus infection are not very different, and the possibility of causing a large-scale epidemic is relatively low, and the “Yang Kang” population is immune to XBB in the short term, but key populations should focus on strengthening protection during the Spring Festival.

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XBB may shorten the protection period gained from previous infections

“Based on the study of some mutation sites of XBB and its subbranches, it is now considered to be the mutant strain with the strongest immune escape ability.” Dong Li had told People’s Daily Health Client that XBB has the potential to shorten the period of protection we gained from previous infections with BA.5 or BF.7, and that the new mutant strain may escape the immune barrier established by previous vaccinations and natural infections.

“For example, we generally consider the risk of secondary infection to be minimal for everyone for 3-6 months, with a protection period of up to six months or more in healthy people, and up to three months or more in people with poorer immune function usually considered to be protected. However, XBB, if prevalent, may shorten this protection period.” Dong Li had explained that this conclusion came from the observations of some foreign research teams, but how long XBB would specifically shorten the protection period is subject to further study.

No significant increase in pathogenicity of XBB virus

On Jan. 13, at a press conference on the State Council’s joint prevention and control mechanism, Chen Cao, a researcher at the Institute of Viral Diseases of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said that current research data show that although XBB is more transmissible, the symptoms of XBB infection are similar to those of other Omicron strains, and there is no significant increase in pathogenicity.

Dong Li had said, “According to foreign research data, the clinical manifestations of XBB are not significantly different from the previous strains. So we think that even if there is a secondary infection, there may not be much difference in the clinical manifestations.” Regarding the rumor that “XBB-infected patients are more likely to have cardiovascular or diarrheal symptoms,” Dong Li said that according to studies in foreign countries where XBB is prevalent, there is no obvious tendency.

“Yang Kang” has immunity to XBB, do a good job of protection during the Spring Festival

According to the press release of the State Council Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism, from December 1, 2022 to January 12, 2023, only one case of indigenous XBB infection was monitored. During the same period, 33 imported cases of XBB and its subbranches were monitored, coming from 20 countries and regions. Chen Cao introduced that there is no indigenous epidemic of XBB.

Li Dong has said, “In the short term, ‘Yang Kang’ people are immune to XBB, so people should pay attention not to stay up late during the Spring Festival, avoid straining, don’t drink a lot of alcohol and just take normal protective measures.”

“For the elderly, people with underlying diseases, as well as people who have not had Yang over or vaccinated, still focus on strengthening protection.” Li Dong had stressed that at present, in addition to the new crown, influenza, syncytial virus and other respiratory infectious diseases are also in the epidemic season, attention should be paid to the increased risk of infection during visits to friends and relatives.