"When wearing a mask, new infections decreased by 20 percent and deaths by 14 percent"

Australian medical researchers have discovered the fact that the use of masks is very useful for the effect of Omicron.

A group of medical researchers 'Burnett Institute' has researched the role of masks in reducing the spread of the coronavirus.

The report, which was prepared in collaboration with the Australian state of Victoria, was released on Friday.

According to the report, the number of new infections has decreased by 20 percent and the number of deaths by 14 percent with the use of masks.

It is mentioned in the report that they have not studied the use of different masks and their effectiveness separately.

Researchers have said that regardless of wearing any type of mask, it has contributed to preventing the spread of the corona virus.

It is also said that the comparison and relationship between the total infected and the number of hospitalized people can be shown from this study.

The risk of the fourth wave of Corona!

The most contagious Omicron subspecies 'BA Five' is a sign of the fourth wave!

Corona virus infection is on the rise again in Nepal. On Wednesday, after four months, 113 people have been infected.

According to the data of the Ministry of Health and Population, infection was seen in 112 people on February 26. Since then, the number of infected people has been continuously decreasing.

With the confirmation of the new subspecies 'BA Five' of the Omicron variant, which has been considered contagious until now, public health experts estimate that a fourth wave will also come to Nepal. Omicron's subspecies 'BA.5' is mainly responsible for doubling the infection rate daily for the past few weeks.

Director of Epidemiology and Disease Control Division Dr. Chumanlal Das says. Now it seems that corona cases are increasing in Nepal as well. Comparatively, the number of infected people is increasing at the Nepal-India entry point. The subspecies of Omicron is increasing the infection, Dr. Das said, "This is a harbinger of the fourth wave."

As the number of infected people is increasing in India, it will easily spread in Nepal as well. Das says.

Contagious as ever

According to public health experts, Omicron's subspecies 'BA.5' is still contagious. Which has the ability to transmit the infection at a fast pace.

Shukraraj Tropical and Communicable Disease Hospital Dr. Sher Bahadur Pun says that people who have been vaccinated with Omicron's subspecies 'BA.5' will also see a wave of re-infection. BA.5 infects more and more people. However, researches in different countries have shown that the number of hospital admissions is low, said Dr. Pun told Online Khabar, "It can be said that the premonitions seen now are moving towards the wave of infection again."

According to the data of various countries, the ability to cause hospitalization and death is less than the latter variant. Dr. Infectious disease specialist Dr. Omicron changed gene 'spike protein' which spreads rapidly and in a short period of time. Prabhat Adhikari says.

The vaccine against corona developed by us would protect the amount from Omicron. However, the infection of BA.5 seems to reduce the effectiveness of the vaccine,' says the officer, 'because it is a subvariant of Omicron, it is not as deadly as Delta.' Officials estimate.

This species has been declared a 'Variant of Concern' by the World Health Organization. How dangerous it is has not been studied.

Infectious disease specialist Dr. Anup Subedi also says that 'BA.5' is more contagious than the previous variants.

According to studies so far, 13 of Omicrons (R. nut) are considered to be infectious. Similarly, Omicron's subspecies 'BA.5' has 18. According to experts, 'R not' means the ability to transmit infection. "Until now, the most contagious infection was measles. However, now the subspecies of Omicron BA.5 is more contagious,' said Dr. Subedi says, 'It seems that the wave will end soon by increasing the infection in the air.' According to Subedi, because it is more contagious, the wave of BA.5 may not last for months. However, he says that it cannot be predicted that it will become dangerous and deadly.

According to the latest figures in the UK, the rate of hospital admissions has increased by 30%. Dr. According to Subedi, how long ago did the previous wave come? What was the situation between that? How was the immunity at the community level? Based on that, it can be estimated how much the new variant will affect. Many people died when the delta variant spread in Nepal. However, Omicron was not more lethal. It has been a year since the third wave spread. That's why we are more at risk than Omicron," said Dr. Subedi says.

Another public health expert Dr. Kedar Baral also supports other experts and says that there will be a wave of corona in Nepal. There has also been a change in Omicron's 'spike protein'. It's been a long time since we administered the second dose of corona vaccine," said Dr. Baral says, "As the immunity of Nepalis decreases and new subspecies come, now it seems that it will come in waves."

Less effective vaccine

According to the data of the Ministry of Health and Population, 967,575 people have recovered from corona infection.

With the reoccurrence of the corona wave, it is seen that even the vaccinated people will be infected again. Officials say. He says, 'It has been seen that infection occurs even after vaccination. Prevents it from becoming serious even in vaccinated people.

When the third wave of Omicron was introduced in Nepal, most of the people were infected and the effectiveness of the vaccine was also reduced. It seems that the effectiveness of 'BA.5' vaccine, which is more contagious than Omicron, will be low.

After four to five months of the third dose, its effectiveness is below 50 percent. On top of that, the number of people taking booster doses is low. Most of the Nepalis have been vaccinated against Verocell and Estragene. The effectiveness of which is also low," said Dr. Subedi says that infection can occur even during vaccination because of the high rate of infection. Therefore, the most suitable is to follow the standards of public health.

Various studies and researches have said that Omicron's subspecies 'BA.5' infected have different symptoms than other variants. Symptoms like headache and neck pain, reduced ability to think, depression, and difficulty walking in light have been observed in the infected. 

Dr. Various factors influence which variant will have what effect. Subedi says. Omicron's subspecies does not seem to have preserved much of its old immunity. In other countries, the rate of hospitalization is increasing, Dr. Subedi says, 'Omicron did not cause so much damage in our country in the third wave. However, more people died in Europe and America than in Delta. Since the big wave also happened a year ago, there is no way to be sure that there will be no damage.

Similarly, co-spokesperson of the Ministry of Health Dr. Samir Adhikari also says that people should be more sensitive towards following the standards of public health with the infection. "If Omicron infection increases, the situation will become more complicated," said Dr. The official says, 'In view of that, the Ministry of Health is moving towards increasing surveillance, prioritizing vaccination and managing hospitals.'

A subspecies of Omicron 'BA Five' was seen for the first time in Nepal.

A new subspecies of Omicron variant 'BA Five' has been confirmed in Nepal.

In the genetic test (gene sequencing) conducted by Dhulikhel Hospital, Omicron's subspecies 'BA Five' was found. Hospital sources have informed that 'BA Five' subspecies was found when looking at the samples collected from other laboratories through gene sequencing.

"When looking at the sample from another laboratory through gene sequencing, a subspecies of Omicron has been seen," the source said, "This shows that the subspecies of Omicron 'BA Five' has spread."

The 'history' of the infected person has not been revealed. The hospital said that no more information is available due to samples collected from other laboratories. Now, due to two new subspecies of the Omicron variant, the rate of coronavirus infection is increasing again in some countries of the world.

The BA four and BA five subspecies, which originated in South Africa, are spreading more infections in Europe, America, Germany and other countries. Public health experts say that 'BA Five' has helped in increasing the number of infected people, which is stable, by almost four times in the past two weeks.

Infectious disease specialist Dr. Shukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital found that Omicron's subspecies 'BA Five' spread faster than other variants. Sher Bahadur explains again. "A few months ago, it was found that BA four and BA five were among the infected in European countries," said Dr. Pun said, "With the confirmation in Nepal as well, it is confirmed that the subspecies of Omicron has helped in spreading the infection."

However, it is not yet known how many people are at risk due to the 'BA Five' subspecies. Dr. BA Five' subspecies cannot be ascertained now. Repeat.

Is it just normal symptoms? It is not possible to believe that it will bring more problems," said Dr. Pun added, "However, the data of other countries clearly show that the new subspecies can cause re-infection."

Similarly, infectious disease specialist Dr. Anup Subedi also says that there is a great possibility that the new subspecies can cause re-infection. However, it is not clear whether Omicron's BA Five is more or less deadly than other species.

The number of infected people is increasing every week. As the immunity of the vaccine decreases, the number of infected people may increase for some time, said Dr. Subedi says, "However, it is difficult to say how much risk Omicron's BA Five brings."

Earlier, major variants like alpha and delta of corona virus had caused a big wave of infection. However, it can be assumed that Omicron's 'BA Five' subspecies will not be more serious as people have been infected many times, but cannot be sure. Subedi says.

How deadly the new wave will be is affected by various factors. Subedi says.

According to experts, Omicrons of BA four and BA five subtypes have also been seen in people infected with other variants of Omicron.

The new subspecies also has the risk of making the elderly or people with other health problems seriously ill. Repeat.

Dr. Omicron is constantly changing its form and creating an easy environment for its spread. Pun says.

The National Public Health Laboratory Teku has said that genetic (gene sequencing) is being carried out to determine whether the current infection is an old type of Omicron variant or not. Laboratory director Dr. According to Runa Jha, the gene sequencing report will come on Monday (tomorrow).

"Two weeks ago, Omicron was seen due to gene sequencing," said Dr. Jha said, "Gen sequencing of the last stage of the case is being done. There will be further confirmation as to which variant is responsible for increasing the infection.

Recently, at least four people were infected with corona virus in 24 hours in Nepal. That number has increased to 62 people within 24 hours on June 15.

On June 1, 3,905 people were tested and 25 people were infected, while on June 18, 2,467 people were tested and 44 people were infected.

55 people were infected on June 16th, 62 people on June 15th, 44 people on June 14th, 41 people on June 13th, 29 people on June 12th and 27 people on June 11th. According to the data of the Ministry of Health, there are currently 314 active infected people. Out of which 7 people are in institutional isolation and 4 people are in Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

A subspecies of Omicron 'BF.1' was also found in Nepal

A subspecies of Omicron variant, which is considered highly infectious, has also been identified in Nepal.

A new subspecies of Omicron 'BF.1' was confirmed during testing at the Molecular and Genomic Sequencing Research Lab of Dhulikhel Hospital.

Various subspecies have been observed through genetic testing (gene sequencing) of 22 samples with confirmed corona infection.

BF.One was not seen in Nepal until now. However, we have reported to the National Public Health Laboratory. The subspecies 'BF.1' of Omicron is considered to be the most contagious so far, said a hospital source.

According to the source, the subspecies of Omicron 'BA.Five' has been observed in 8 samples during gene sequencing.

"BA.5" has a hand in increasing the infection in recent times. "The confirmation of BA.5's subvariant 'BF.1' has added more challenges," said the source.

This species has been declared a 'Variant of Concern' by the World Health Organization. How dangerous it is has not been studied.

The World Health Organization has already confirmed that 'BF.1' was also seen in Europe last June. In the last two weeks, corona patients admitted to hospitals in Kathmandu have also received the second dose of the vaccine.

Research scientist and bacteriologist Dr. Santosh Dulal says that the effectiveness of the vaccine is low in the now confirmed subspecies of Omicron. According to him, 'BA.5' has infected 80 percent of the total number of infected people.

"35 percent of Omicron's sub-variant 'BA.5' has been admitted to the hospital", Dr. Dulal said, 'antibodies made in the body by vaccination or infection would have given as much protection to 'BA.2'. It has been found that 'BA.5' has given four times less security.'

According to the data of the Ministry of Health and Population, the current infection rate in Nepal has exceeded 10 percent. According to experts, this is the fourth wave of Corona.

Dr. Dulal says, "People who have received two doses or booster vaccinations have also been admitted to the hospital. "It seems that the sub-variant of BA.5 is able to evade the immune system developed in the body due to infection or vaccination."

However, even if an infection occurs in a vaccinated person, complications are reduced, so an additional vaccine (booster) should be applied. Dulal's suggestion.

"Additional vaccinations and masks, including public health standards should be followed", said Dr. Dulal says, 'Looking at the nature of the infection of covid, it may be necessary to give a vaccine against covid like the vaccine against flu (seasonal cold).'