China News Service, Beijing, August 10 (Wei Xianghui) Currently, local epidemics have occurred in Hainan and other provinces.

On August 10, the Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism of the State Council held a press conference on the recent epidemic prevention and control work, and responded to the changes in the national epidemic situation and the progress of new vaccine research and development.

At the same time, in response to the superimposed risks of two respiratory infectious diseases such as influenza and new coronary pneumonia in autumn and winter, relevant departments have taken a series of preventive measures.

On the 5th, a nucleic acid sampling site in Sanya.

Photo by Wang Xiaobin

The epidemic situation in Sanya, Hainan is still at a high stage of progress

　　Mi Feng, a spokesman for the National Health and Medical Commission, said that since August, a total of 9 provinces across the country have reported more than 100 local infections, including more than 2,000 in Hainan Province.

At present, the epidemic situation in Sanya, Hainan is still at a high level of progress.

　　Guo Yanhong, Inspector of the Medical Administration and Hospital Administration Bureau of the National Health and Health Commission, introduced that in the process of responding to the epidemic, the National Health and Health Commission coordinated the national medical and nucleic acid testing resources, increased support for Hainan, and has dispatched 10,000 people from 19 provinces across the country. A number of medical and health personnel supported Hainan.

　　At the same time, the epidemic situation in Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, Guangdong and other provinces is still in the stage of rapid development, and there is a certain risk of social transmission.

Lhasa, Shigatse, Ali and other places in Tibet have recently reported new local epidemics, and the risk of spread is relatively high.

　　Guo Yanhong introduced that in order to strengthen the prevention and control of the epidemic in Tibet, the Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism of the State Council has dispatched a working group, and also brought in national-level experts, including experts in inspection, flow transfer, treatment, and community prevention and control, to guide Tibet. Control the epidemic as soon as possible.

　　In view of the severe cases in many places in this round of the epidemic, experts analyzed that this is related to the fact that more patients in the western plateau area suffer from chronic respiratory diseases, and the plateau area is prone to hypoxemia and other factors.

On August 1, 27 critically ill patients in Gansu were all converted to normal or cured and discharged, and none of them developed into critical illness.

Three cases are still recovering, and the others have been discharged.

In addition, the local clustered epidemics that occurred in Gansu, Guangxi, Shandong and other places in the early stage have been effectively controlled.

Many duty-free shops on outlying islands in Sanya closed their doors to thank customers.

Photo by Wang Xiaobin

New vaccine development including Omicron variant is in progress

　　Recently, new mutant strains have been detected in many parts of the country, that is, the Omicron BA.5 strain and its evolutionary branches.

　　According to Dong Xiaoping, chief expert of virology at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, according to domestic and foreign studies, the prevalence and transmission characteristics of the Omicron BA.5 variant are compared with other Omicrons. Compared with the BA.2 strain that was popular at an earlier time, the transmission ability was slightly enhanced.

More importantly, its immune escape ability has been significantly enhanced, and the risk of re-infection has increased, which has brought greater difficulties and challenges to the prevention and control work.

　　Wang Huaqing, chief expert on the immunization program of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said that some countries, including my country, have also carried out research and development of new vaccines. Through the research and development of new vaccines, it is expected that the vaccines can play a role in blocking infection. Stamina, reduce the phenomenon of immune escape caused by virus mutation.

　　Wang Huaqing revealed that vaccine research and development, including the Omicron variant, is also in progress, and there may be single vaccines or combined vaccines in the future.

However, vaccine development, especially new vaccine development, takes time, and there are also some uncertainties in the development process.

Haikou City conducted urban and rural nucleic acid testing on the 7th.

Photo by Luo Yunfei

Influenza and new coronary pneumonia "double epidemic" risk may appear

　　This summer, the epidemic peak of A(H3N2) subtype influenza virus has appeared in southern my country. Experts have judged that the risk of a higher level of influenza epidemic in this autumn and winter is high.

At present, the world is still in the midst of a new crown pneumonia pandemic. Therefore, in the autumn and winter or winter and spring of this year, there may be a risk of superimposed epidemics of influenza and new crown pneumonia.

　　Dong Xiaoping said that in response to this risk, relevant departments have taken a series of combined measures.

For example, long-term monitoring of the activity levels and characteristics of influenza and new coronary pneumonia, dynamic risk assessment, and timely issuance of early warning information.

In the fever clinic, patients with fever should be screened and triaged, and influenza and new crowns should be identified and diagnosed in a timely manner.

　　In the event of an outbreak, the local government will adopt some necessary public health measures based on the risk assessment of the outbreak, whether it is the new crown or the flu.

While preventing and controlling the new coronary pneumonia, it can also effectively reduce the spread of influenza.

Actively promote influenza vaccination work. This year, our country issued influenza vaccine batches relatively early. It is recommended that all localities make preparations for influenza vaccination in a timely manner.

　　Autumn and winter are coming soon. Relevant departments call on the public to prevent and control respiratory infectious diseases and get flu vaccinations early before the flu season, especially for the elderly and medical workers.

In the event of flu-like symptoms such as fever, dry cough, and fatigue, seek medical attention in time, and usually take personal protection, including frequent hand washing, scientific and standardized wearing of masks, frequent ventilation, and fewer gatherings.

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