Due to the rapid spread of the latest Omicron subvariant of Covid-19 in the United States a World Health Organization (WHO) official said on Tuesday that countries should consider recommending masks for passengers on longhaul flights
Officials from WHO/Europe said in a press conference that the XBB.1.5 subvariant has detected in a small but growing number of cases in Europe.
According to WHO’s senior emergency officer for Europe, Catherine Smallwood, passengers should be advise to wear masks when traveling on long-haul flights due to the high risk of transmission of Covid-19, adding that “this should be a recommendation issue to passengers arriving from anywhere where Covid-19 is prevalent.”
Most transmissible Omicron subvariant detected
Covid-19 cases in the United States for the week ending January 7 attributed to XBB.1.5, the most transmissible Omicron subvariant detected to date.
Uncertainty still exists as to whether XBB.1.5 will spread around the world as a wave of infections. In addition to protecting against severe symptoms, hospitalizations, and death, current vaccines continue to offer a high level of safety.
“Countries need to examine the evidence base for pre-departure testing”, warned Smallwood, noting that geographical focus should not be restrict to a single region.
In the event that action is take, she stated, “in our opinion, it is essential to implement travel measures in a manner that is nondiscriminatory.”
The agency does not, however, recommend passengers entering the country from the United States be test at this time.
Among the measures that can be take are genomic surveillance and the targeting of passengers arriving from other countries so long as the measure does not divert resources away from domestic surveillance systems. In addition, wastewater monitoring systems around points of entry, such as airports, can also be implement.
Covid-19 is cause by the virus XBB.1.5
Covid-19 is cause by the virus XBB.1.5, a descendant of Omicron, the most contagious – and now globally dominant – variant of the virus. In October, it discovered as an offshoot of XBB, itself a recombinant of two other Omicron subvariants.
In parallel to the escalating concern about XBB.1.5 causing new outbreaks throughout the United States and abroad, the country has seen an uptick in Covid cases after pivoting away from its zero-Covid policy last month.
Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports that Omicron sublineages BA.5.2 and BF.7 are more common among locally acquire infections, based on data report by the WHO earlier this month.
There is a belief among scientists – including the WHO – that China has underreported the true extent of its outbreak.
Covid tests are require for Chinese travellers in more than a dozen countries, including the United States.
