Why did the Kashgar epidemic have multiple nucleic acid tests for all employees? Medical experts explained
[Global Times reporter Ni Hao] On November 4, Shufu County, Kashgar, Xinjiang launched the fourth round of nucleic acid testing for all employees. Short-term and high-frequency testing demonstrated the determination of the local epidemic prevention and control, and also showed that a large number of asymptomatics were found in the early stage of the Kashgar epidemic The prevention and control pressure brought by the infected.
On November 3, Xinjiang (including the Corps) reported 2 new confirmed cases and 116 new asymptomatic infections.
Currently, Xinjiang (including the Corps) has 64 confirmed cases and 345 asymptomatic infections.
Unlike previous local epidemics in other regions, Xinjiang Kashgar detected a large number of asymptomatic infections at the beginning of the epidemic.
After the first round of nucleic acid testing for all employees on October 27, a total of 178 cases of asymptomatic infection were reported.
After the second round of full staff testing on October 29, the cumulative number of asymptomatic infections was 222.
After the third round of testing on November 3, the number of asymptomatic infections in Kashgar rose to 345.
Why did the Kashgar epidemic start with the discovery of a large number of asymptomatic infections, and in the following rounds of full-person testing, a large number of asymptomatic infections were discovered one after another?
Jiang Qing, former dean and epidemiologist of the School of Public Health of Fudan University, explained in an interview with the Global Times reporter on the 5th that the incubation period of asymptomatic infection is 1-14 days, and the general performance is 3-7 days. .
Individuals who are infected vary greatly, the time of infection is not uniform, and the time when the virus is detected may be early or late.
These factors add up, and ultimately cause the time of the positive results of nucleic acid testing to be uneven.
Over time, there have been cases of patients being detected continuously.
This has also become the reason for intensive local inspections to cut off infections as much as possible.
Why does the number of asymptomatic infections in Kashgar far exceed the performance of other cities in the past?
Jiang Qingwu analyzed that the outbreak in Kashgar took place in a clothing factory where young and middle-aged people are concentrated. Because the population is relatively good, they don’t even pay attention to symptoms after they appear. At this time, these asymptomatic infections are already contagious. Has quietly spread to its close contacts.
"When the nucleic acid test was performed, the transmission of the clothing factory was not the first generation, nor the second generation, at least the third generation. Therefore, so many asymptomatic infections have accumulated in a certain period of time and within a certain range. Wang Xijiang, deputy director of the CDC, once said that the high proportion of asymptomatic infections in the Kashgar epidemic is largely due to the timely and efficient nucleic acid testing. The infected people are actively screened through nucleic acid testing before they develop symptoms.
Jiang Qingwu also analyzed that, unlike Qingdao and Dalian, a large number of asymptomatic infections were found at the beginning of the Kashgar epidemic, and signs of community transmission have been revealed, and intensive testing is necessary for overall control.
"If so many asymptomatic infected people are not isolated, but moved in society, one can imagine what the consequences will be." Jiang Qingwu believes that asymptomatic infections are detected as early as possible, and their close contacts are found early. People who are even close contacts should decide whether to conduct isolation medical observation according to the situation, so as to cut off all possible channels of transmission as much as possible.
On November 3, 116 new cases of asymptomatic infections in Kashgar, Xinjiang were all from quarantine observers.
According to the data disclosed at the Xinjiang epidemic news conference, all 137 people tested positive in the first round, including all their close contacts and close contacts of close contacts have all been under isolation medical observation.
Jiang Qingwu believes that after the fourth round of full testing in Kashgar, if a large number of asymptomatic infections are still detected, the local government and health management departments may judge whether it is necessary to start the fifth round of full testing.
"In order to control the epidemic as early as possible, our medical and economic strength allows intensive testing, which is also worthwhile."
Wang Xijiang explained the reasons for the fourth round of full-staff testing on the 3rd, saying, “Asymptomatic infections have no obvious clinical symptoms during the incubation period. Important means." Jiang Qingwu believes that Kashgar is located in the western border, with a scattered population and relatively weak medical infrastructure.
"But Kashgar responded in a timely manner and measures are in place. The epidemic is under control, and its trend depends on the subsequent performance."