The World Health Organisation (WHO) has urged countries to continue with solid surveillance amid rising Covid cases. This includes sharing genomic sequencing data and ensuring vaccine coverage and follow-up care for those who have received the vaccine. It also means continuing to educate and remind people to take basic precautions, such as covering coughing or sneezing with their hands, wearing masks, physically distancing themselves, and washing frequently and thoroughly.
WHO said he was concerned about the current case spike, especially in China. He reiterated the call for better data on hospitalizations and deaths and more rapid viral sequencing, saying this would allow the WHO to respond quickly to changes in the virus’s dynamics. He also stressed the importance of boosting vaccination coverage, including boosters, for those who have not received them and ensuring that everyone vaccinated receives their second booster shot, particularly those with chronic medical conditions and older people.
Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, COVID-19 technical lead of the global health body, warned that the pandemic is not over, despite the lowering number of new cases and fewer deaths in recent weeks. She pointed out that 68 percent of the current cases were the XBB sublineage, while others belong to different groupings, such as JN.1. She added that the virus is evolving, which may be why cases are currently rising.
She explained that the virus is mutating, so more of these new cases are from XBB sublineages. She also noted that the resurgence is due to increased detection of these new strains in some areas.
Vaccination is the best strategy for protecting the population from the disease, and it should be continued with boosters, as well as implementing all the other community protection measures in place. This includes implementing a robust mosquito control program, such as spraying with insecticides, to reduce the number of pests that can spread the disease.
While there are hopes that a virus-neutralizing vaccine will be available soon, the current outbreak has shown that this is not guaranteed. The first step is for countries to make sure they have a robust surveillance system in place and that this is shared and accessible to other countries, as well as investing in research into zoonotic diseases and emerging/re-emerging infections and taking steps to ensure that research directly informs public health policy for action. This is the only way to ensure we can fully protect people from this disease.
