LONDON: Given the rapid spread of the latest Omicron subvariant of COVID-19 in the United States, officials from the World Health Organization (WHO) stated on Tuesday that nations should consider recommending that passengers wear masks on long-haul flights.
WHO/Europe officials stated at a press briefing that the XBB.1.5 subvariant is being detected in Europe in small but increasing numbers.
Catherine Smallwood, senior emergency officer for Europe at the World Health Organization, stated, “Passengers should be advised to wear masks in high-risk settings such as long-haul flights.” Passengers arriving from locations with widespread COVID-19 transmission ought to be given this advice.
Virtual media briefing with @hans_kluge on the #COVID19 situation across the European Region, including international travel & the growing spread of a new sub-variant. https://t.co/96OE3sBh3q
— WHO/Europe (@WHO_Europe) January 10, 2023
According to US health officials, XBB.1.5, the most transmissible Omicron subvariant that has been identified thus far, was responsible for 27.6% of COVID-19 cases in the United States for the week ending January 7.
It is still unknown whether XBB.1.5 will bring about its own global epidemic of infections. Experts assert that the current vaccines continue to safeguard against severe symptoms, hospitalization, and death.
Smallwood added, “Countries need to look at the evidence base for pre-departure testing,” stressing the importance of not focusing solely on one region.
She stated, “our opinion is that travel measures should be implemented in a non-discriminatory manner” if action is considered.
She added that this did not imply that the agency had yet recommended testing for passengers coming from the United States.
Genomic surveillance and focusing on passengers arriving from other nations are examples of actions that can be taken, provided that doing so does not take resources away from domestic surveillance systems. Other examples include wastewater monitoring systems near entry points like airports.
Another descendant of Omicron, the most contagious and currently the most prevalent COVID-19 variant, is XBB.1.5. It is a recombinant of two other Omicron subvariants, and it is an offshoot of XBB, which was first observed in October.
After China switched away from its signature “zero COVID” policy last month, concerns about XBB.1.5 fueling a new wave of cases in the United States and elsewhere are on the rise at the same time as a surge in COVID cases in China.
Omicron sublineages BA.5.2 and BF.7 dominated locally acquired infections, according to an analysis by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, as reported by the WHO earlier this month.
China’s outbreak is likely being under-reported, according to many scientists, including WHO researchers.
More than a dozen nations, including the United States, are requiring travelers from China to undergo COVID testing.
