Threat Of Sub-variants

After months of ebbing away, COVID-19, it seems, is making a comeback yet again in the form newer variants or sub-variants. According to the data of the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP), the infection rate of the disease was less than 1 per cent before June 15, but that has now increased to 2.5 per cent on average. The active caseload has also increased from 240 last week to 348 on Monday. Experts say BA.4 and BA.5 sub-variants of Omicron are fueling the cases of the pandemic in India and other countries. When India sees a rise in the cases, the same is seen in Nepal afterwards, because of the porous border demarcating the two countries. 

At present, the two sub-variants account for more than 21 per cent of the new cases in the U.S., according to U.S. Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. Scientists researching the virus and its variants have said that the new sub-variants evolved from the Omicron lineage to become even more contagious and can evade immunity gained from the past infection or vaccination, meaning that people can contract the virus even if they had the virus in the past. This is really worrying. Dr. Sher Bahadur Pun, Chief of Clinical Research Unit at Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital in Kathmandu, attributed the rising cases to the new sub-variants. 

The news comes at a time when scourge of the pandemic had started to fade from the people’s memory, prompting them to let their guard down. The government has made a commendable progress in extending the reach of the vaccines against the virus, immunising an overwhelming percentage of the population. But still about a third of the population remains to be fully vaccinated or get the booster dose. This population would be disproportionally affected if the new wave were to strike again. But the good news is that more and more people are being vaccinated by the day, making us feel that full vaccination is on the horizon. And the Omicron variant has proved to be less fatal.

To avert the unpalatable impact that might result from this emerging threat, a string of actions, though not enough, are being taken. Strict monitoring and testing the Nepali returnee migrants from India for the virus, which have been happening at the entry points to Nepal in recent days, should go ahead in greater intensity. Besides, the government should make necessary arrangements for the operation of holding centres constructed at several border points for holding the returnees before they intermingle with the community and the families.

 The other day it was reported that for the lack of rules, holding centre built in Biratnagar was mired in uncertainty over whether to operate it or not in light of the diminishing threat of the pandemic. The authorities there were even considering using the centre for the purposes other than intended. The government should take note of this and do the needful to facilitate the operation of holding centres across the country.  We know for sure that as one pandemic is over, the new one will be lurking in the dark. Vigilance against it is the most potent weapon. The threat of the virus is still there and our complacency regarding preventive measures can prove costly.