In China, where the number of severely ill patients infected with Corona 19 has rapidly increased and deaths have occurred one after another, a new type of Omicron mutation has emerged, raising anxiety.



According to local media such as the Global Times on the 21st, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention announced in a briefing the day before, "In the past three months, Omicron mutations such as BF.7, BQ.1, and XBB have been found in Korea."



“49 cases of BQ.1 were detected in 9 provinces, and 11 cases of XBB were confirmed in 3 provinces. Currently, BA.5.2 and BF.7 are the main species in China, but new mutations gradually increase and dominate. Variation can cycle,” he explained.



However, the center added, "Although the new mutation has stronger transmissibility than the previous mutation, there is no report from the international academic community that the severity or mortality rate is high."



Recently, in China, the number of infections complaining of severe symptoms has surged, and since the 19th of last month, when the first corona 19 death in six months was officially announced, 11 deaths have been counted.



However, unlike the authorities' statistics, it is known that the number of deaths presumed to be infected with Corona 19 is rapidly increasing in Beijing and other places.



In addition, it was claimed that the majority of severely infected people in China were infected with the new BF.7 mutation.



On the 19th, Professor Wang Guangfa, head of the Department of Respiratory and Severe Diseases at Peking University First Hospital, said, “The BF.7 mutation is prevalent in Beijing. There are also relatively many,” he said.



He observed that "severe symptoms appear only after 5 to 7 days after infection with Corona 19, and it takes time for health to deteriorate in response to the underlying disease."



In this regard, social media (SNS) such as Weibo said, "It is a well-known fact that Chinese vaccines are less effective compared to foreign vaccines." came.



One netizen said, “The commonality of severely ill patients infected with Corona 19 is that they have been vaccinated, and the symptoms of those who have not been vaccinated are rather mild.” It doesn't seem like it," he wrote.



Another netizen mentioned the case of a diabetic former professional soccer player in his 30s and a fourth grader in elementary school who died after being infected with Corona 19, saying, "It is not only the elderly with underlying diseases who are at risk for Corona 19." It should never be trusted and taken lightly. Don't trust anyone and protect yourself."



The emergence of new mutations is raising the Chinese people's vigilance amid growing distrust and dissatisfaction with the authorities due to insufficient response to Corona 19 after the quarantine was eased, disruptions in drug supply and treatment, and even information not being disclosed transparently.



(Photo = Yonhap News)