China can expect repeat Covid infections with new Omicron strains on the way, scientists say
- Subvariants BQ.1.1 and XBB have been circulating abroad and could trigger a new round of mass cases in China, biochemist says
- Virologist says the best strategy is to get boosted, maintain social distance, seek medical help as needed – but don’t panic
Virologist Shan-Lu Liu from The Ohio State University in the United States said that as vaccine protection waned, reinfection rates would rise.
“China will likely follow the trend, and repeat infection waves as seen in other parts of the world,” Liu said, saying Omicron – the dominant variant around the world for more than a year – had the highest rate of reinfection.
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Scientists are still trying to understand the basics of why some people who recover from Covid-19 become infected again.
Among the unknowns are how often the reinfections occur, how severe they are compared with initial infections and what their long-term health effects are.
In most parts of the world, reinfections have become common, with three or four major infection peaks in 2022.
In a study led by Peking University, researchers examined 6.6 million cases from around the world and found the average reinfection rate of all pre-Omicron variants was around 2 per cent.