The fifth wave of the epidemic broke out. Hong Kong not only recorded the world’s first hamster infection in humans and zoonotic infections, but also the Omicron variant virus and its subtype “BA.2” appeared in many districts in Hong Kong, Kowloon and the New Territories, and even the invisible transmission of the Delta variant virus. In addition, the virus was detected in many sewage in Hong Kong and Kowloon, and many people in Yak Kwai House in Kwai Chung Village were infected. Kindergarten teachers who wore masks were also diagnosed. The team of experts from the Centre for Health Protection and the University of Hong Kong confirmed yesterday that there is more and more evidence of hamster infection. The Centre found a couple who were infected with the virus in a pet shop customer, and the virus genes were different from each other, and a confirmed case was found in another pet shop. Professor Yuan Guoyong of the Department of Microbiology of the University of Hong Kong even announced that it is the first case of a new virus in the world. A special mutation named “D427G” was found in the sample of the pet store, which made the epidemic in Hong Kong face a bigger mutation!
Two additional initial confirmed cases involving pet shops
The new coronavirus is ubiquitous, with two additional preliminary confirmed cases involving pet shops yesterday. Among them, a 30-year-old woman visited “Little Boss” in Causeway Bay on January 11 and was initially tested for the virus after being admitted to the quarantine center; another customer who visited the pet shop “I Love Rabbit” in Mong Kok on January 4 also Preliminary diagnosis. The shop sells hamsters and other animals.
Zhang Zhujun, director of the Infectious Diseases Division of the Centre for Health Protection, pointed out that the Department of Health and the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department took samples from other branches of the “I Love Rabbit” group and found that a hamster cage in the Yuen Long branch contained the virus, indicating that there is a high chance of the virus being transmitted from animals to humans. increase. The staff of the Mong Kok and Yuen Long branches need to be quarantined, and the AFCD will consider whether it is necessary to humanely destroy other animals in the store. The CHP is currently investigating whether the animals involved in the three incidents in Yuen Long, Mong Kok and Causeway Bay arrived in Hong Kong on or after December 22 last year, as well as the origin and batch.
Zhang Zhujun also announced that the first 23-year-old female clerk of “Little Boss” was diagnosed, and a 67-year-old female customer who had been in contact with her and her 73-year-old husband were also diagnosed. However, the virus genes of the shop assistant and the two couples were sequenced, and there were 4 gene mutations that were different, reflecting that the two couples did not contract the virus from the saleswoman, and the source was most likely animals.
She further explained that, in general, when the virus is transmitted from person to person, the genetic sequence will be exactly the same, but in a batch of infected animals, each one may have a different genetic sequence due to genetic mutation. There will also be differences in the genetic sequence. The 17-year-old St. Joseph’s English Middle School student who was diagnosed with the Delta variant virus yesterday also has a different genetic sequence from the “Little Boss” confirmed group.
Yuan Guoyong: The virus may have new mutations
Yuan Guoyong pointed out that the first pet store with hamster infection, an animal cage in its warehouse in Tai Po was found to be similar to the non-local European Delta variant. It is estimated that the virus is likely to enter the local community through hamsters. The variant virus found in the pet store is the closest to the virus that broke out in the Czech Republic in December last year, but it is not exactly the same. There is a special mutation named “D427G”, which shows that the virus may be a new mutation. It is still uncertain whether it is produced in hamsters and then passed on to humans, or whether it is produced in humans. It is not yet known how transmissible or virulent the mutated virus will be. He stressed that the safest course of action is to kill the hamsters to prevent another outbreak.
Yuan also said that usually infected hamsters will become sick within 3 to 6 days, but after the hamsters are infected, they may not have obvious symptoms, and they will produce a large amount of virus, so it is not recommended for the public to isolate the hamsters for observation.
