Local health experts on Thursday said the country should be on high alert for the COVID-19 XXB.1.5 variant, which is five times more virulent than past variants.
The XXB.1.5 variant has been detected in over 88 countries and 46 states in the United States of America.
Its symptoms include joint pain, headaches, pain in the neck, upper back pain, pneumonia, lack of appetite, sore throat, sneezing, cold, cough, and hoarse voice.
Medical and Dental Private Practitioners Association of Zimbabwe president Johannes Marisa told NewsDay that there are chances the new variant could evade the immune system. He said:
We need to be alert as a country, suspected cases should be tested quickly and case management is thoroughly done.
Not much information is available to show that it is more dangerous than the Delta variant. However, as an Omicron variant, it has higher transmissibility.
As a mutant strain, it can have chances to evade the immune system and if this happens, it would mean that everyone can be at risk despite the hybrid immunity, therefore, we should continue with genomic sequencing to scout for the XBB.1.5.
Community Working Group on Health executive director Itai Rusike said:
The looming threat of a growing proportion of COVID-19 cases elsewhere due to XBB is a very worrying issue for our already overwhelmed public health delivery services, hence the need to expand efforts to increase our vaccination rates and national vaccine stockpile.
With schools opening next week, there is a need to strengthen the standard operating procedures for the safe reopening and operation of schools.
The school health coordinators should be supported and trained so that they can carry out COVID-19 literacy programmes for learners, teachers, and support staff.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO)’s senior epidemiologist Maria Van Kerkhove said XBB.1.5 is the most transmissible Omicron sub-variant that has been detected so far, reported Reuters.
She said the variant spreads rapidly because of the mutations it contains, allowing it to adhere to cells and replicate easily.
