A new and highly transmissible BF.7 strain of the Omicron variant has been found to be behind a wider surge of COVID infections in China and is spreading rapidly around the world. 

It has been found in the United States, Denmark, Germany, France, and India. 

The highly contagious new Omicron sub-variant of coronavirus, BF.7, has been detected in Bangladesh also, confirmed Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR).

The presence of a new variant was confirmed in the genome sequence reports of one of the four Covid-19 infected Chinese citizens who travelled to Bangladesh from China recently.

What to know about the Omicron BF.7 COVID variant:

The BF.7 Omicron sub-variant's full name is BA.5.2.1.7. 

BF.7 is a sub-lineage of the Omicron variant BA.5 and has more immune escape capability. It is a highly transmissible variant with a shorter incubation period.

The new sub-variant has a change in the spike protein — a feature that allows it to enter cells — seen in other Omicron strains making headway.

It also has a change in the nucleotide sequence — sometimes referred to as the blueprint of an organism — that could cause it to behave differently than other sub-variants.

The variant also has a higher capacity to cause re-infection and can even infect people who have had a previous COVID infection, or been vaccinated, or both.

BF.7 may well cause more serious illness in people with weaker immune systems.

The BF.7 variant has 4.4-fold higher neutralization resistance than the original Wuhan virus - meaning the antibodies from the vaccination are not effective enough against the virus, said a study published in the journal Cell Host and Microbe. 

BF.7 is believed to have an R0, or basic reproduction number, of 10 to 18.6. This means an infected person will transmit the virus to an average of 10 to 18.6 other people. Research has shown Omicron has an average R0 of 5.08.

What are the Symptoms?

As the new BF.7 variant is similar to Omicron, early warning signs of infection may include:

·       Fever

·       Sore throat

·       Fatigue

·       Runny nose and

·       Cough

·       Stomach-related issues including diarrhea and vomiting may also be symptoms. 

While the variant may not lead to any severe complications, it can spread faster. 

Reduce the transmission/prevention of new Covid variants include:

• Isolation, wearing masks and distancing are some important techniques to keep the infections from spreading.
• Taking booster vaccines is a must to stay safe.
• Meet people outside if possible.
• Open doors and windows to let in fresh air if meeting people inside.
• Avoid crowded places.
• Wash hands with soap and water or use hand sanitizer regularly throughout the day.

The newer Omicron sub-variants are more transmissible than other variants and are not susceptible to some of the anti-SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal antibody that has been developed for treatment and prevention.

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