Travelers should wear a mask in countries where the spread of Covid is high – WHO

Washington: In many foreign countries like China, Japan, America etc., Covid cases are increasing again. In many places, new varieties have caused the spread. Reports emerged that a new variant called XBB.1.5 was behind the outbreak in the US. After this, the World Health Organization has again issued instructions regarding the use of masks.

The World Health Organization has stated that the respective countries should advise those taking long-haul flights to wear masks. This is in the context of the rapid spread of new Omicron variants, including in the United States. In Europe, the XBB.1.5 variant is currently low but rates are increasing, says the World Health Organization.

Catherine Smallwood, the World Health Organization’s senior emergency officer in Europe, said that it is wise for everyone in areas where the spread of Covid is severe to follow this recommendation. The XBB.1.5 variant has been reported to account for 27.6 percent of current cases in America. Variants such as BF7 and XBB.1.5 were reported to be behind the spread in countries such as China and Japan. Japan’s covid rates and death rates are reaching record highs.

Meanwhile, China has lifted the severe covid restrictions implemented to prevent covid. After three years, land, air and water transport routes were fully opened by China on Sunday. The decision to open amid the unmanageable increase in the number of Covid-19 patients is also drawing criticism. China decided to end its ‘zero covid policy’ in December following strong anti-government protests.

The Omicron BF7 variant is behind the spread in China. Then came the news that this variant has also been confirmed in India. Health experts say severe sore throat, runny nose, body aches and high fever are more common in the BF-7 variant. Health experts warn that those who have been sick before, the elderly, those with heart disease, diabetes, lung disease, etc. should be more careful. The BF7 variant was previously reported in countries such as America, the UK, Belgium, Germany, France and Denmark.

There are XBB variations

XBB contains Omicron’s own BJ1 and BA2 subunits.75. The most virulent variants of Covid were first reported in Singapore in August. Symptoms include sore throat, runny nose, cough, fever, fatigue, headache, diarrhea and vomiting. The subvariants of this virus are XBB-1 and XBB-1.5. XBB Mae has been reported in many parts of India including Maharashtra. The accumulation of variants such as XBB could reduce the effectiveness of Covid vaccines and lead to reinfection of the virus, researchers at Columbia University said in a study earlier this month.