Chen Xiuxi, a professor at the National Taiwan University School of Public Health, said in the "New Coronary Pneumonia Epidemic Prevention Science Online Live" today that the XBB.1.5 mutant strain of COVID-19 has high-speed transmission and high immune escape ability, and the peak of the prevalence of related new subvariant viruses in Taiwan may fall in early March.

(file photo)

[Central News Agency] Chen Xiuxi, a professor of National Taiwan University School of Public Health, said in the "New Coronary Pneumonia Epidemic Prevention Science Online Live" today that the XBB.1.5 mutant strain of COVID-19 has high-speed transmission ability and high immune escape ability, and the epidemic peak of the related new subvariant virus in Taiwan The dot may fall in early March.

Omicron subvariant XBB.1.5 currently accounts for 1/4 of confirmed cases of COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) in the United States.

The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control recently estimated that XBB.1.5 may become an epidemic strain in Europe within 2 months.

Please read on...

Chen Xiuxi led a research team today to analyze the international epidemic trend through online live broadcast.

He mentioned that Taiwan's current overall epidemic situation has gradually declined after reaching its peak in mid-January, because it was affected by the immune protection formed by natural infection of BA.2 and BA.5 in the past.

The higher infection rate among young people can further form community protection, thereby protecting the older age group.

Chen Xiuxi believes that at present, Taiwan can celebrate the New Year with peace of mind during the Lunar New Year.

If the epidemic is well controlled, measures such as downgrading and loosening of masks can be prepared in the next year.

However, he also reminded that mutant strains such as BQ.1 and XBB.1.5 may gather together with people entering and leaving the country and during the Spring Festival, causing a wave of epidemics.

It is currently estimated that the peak of the epidemic will fall around the beginning of March, and then gradually decline.

Chen Xiuxi said that XBB.1.5 was named by scholars after the Norwegian sea monster Kraken, describing its high-speed transmission and infection rate, and its immune escape ability is quite perfect.

Severe challenges will be posed to the moderately ill and vulnerable groups, the affordability of medical care, and excess deaths.

But if you think about it from another angle, Chen Xiuxi said that the toxicity of XBB.1.5 is not as serious as everyone thinks, and it can even help the community to quickly create immune protection, accelerate downgrading and mask unblocking.

Therefore, in terms of epidemic prevention strategy, the immune protection formed by XBB.1.5 natural infection may be used to survive the new wave of virus invasion in the future and lead to a happy life.

Based on recent overseas research, the research team has sorted out six "precise and happy epidemic prevention" strategies during the Chinese New Year period, including forming an immune firewall through natural infection of groups aged 12 to 65; taking precise bivalent vaccinations for vulnerable groups; wearing masks in crowded places and Maintain social distance; promote rapid antigen screening as soon as possible to help accurate drug administration and reduce medical waste; monitor rapid screening antibodies; relieve stress through music therapy.

Related news please see:

Please click here for "Wuhan Pneumonia Zone", for more information, you can grasp it first-hand.