A threat thats according to the World Health Organization, which is now monitoring and youre very cold. E, g 5 is not necessarily more dangerous than other variants, but it is spreading foss across several countries from the us to japan and china, the strain appears to be highly transmissible. So is k with 19 here to stay . And with so many variants, constantly emerging will booster shots even make a difference . Well explore these questions with a guest and just somebody would prefer us this report from katia lucas. Its a new cove of 19 variants that spreading fast. Its called the e g 5, and the World Health Organization is keeping an eye on it. The vitus continues to cycle 18 own countries. It continues to kim and it continues to change. The ability to, hes got into the tracking 7 out of it and including easy thought 5 for which we had a publishing at least evaluation for now. Health experts say that you do 5 strain doesnt appear to pose a higher thread than other variants. Like on the kron but the cases are on the rise, particularly in china, south korea, japan, canada, and the us with new variance emerging booster vaccines must also change. We try to select the empty gen, uh, that will a provide use the maximum breast of unity. So that to protection to people is a, as a why thats supposed to be born uh, on dissipating that the virus movers between the time where the recommendation is issue and the time when the vaccine is produced. E g 5 is causing about 70 percent of new cove and 19 cases in the us with schools back in session and Summer Travel possibly fueling the risk. But on a global level, the w h o says its struggling to keep accurate statistics with only 25 percent of countries still reporting cold with 19 data. We dont detect a change in severity of e g dot 5 compared to others, something he does it on the chrome that had been in circulation since late 2021. The world is still recovering from the aftermath of the devastating pandemic. Nearly 7000000 people have died globally since cope with 19 1st emerged in 2020. Its no longer a pen demik, but the w h o says its a mistake for governments to see the virus as something of the past. Patsy a little bit. So the again for insights story the so that you have it, lets bring it in now i guess now in just show we have a pool hunter in the u. K. That the meal logistic professor in medicine at the university of east anglia, in power. Some problems works on a paycheck. A Global Health advisor and a Global Engagement lecture at the University College of london school. The pharmacy i am on by thought to each while i get a lot of consultants on Infectious Diseases and present emeritus of the 8 society of india. A warm welcome to each of you and oaks on it. If i could start with you straight to the bottom line, should we be, why do you think . Well, i think this is certainly not the time to let our guard up, but its important to stress that the overall risk globally is low. Were not in the same position as we were even in december 2022 at the on a crime wave. But not all countries are surveying as much as they can be. And we need to get that Booster Program rolling out. That is a more specific vaccine for this new variant of interest. So what im really concerned about are the, is the vulnerable population. We should certainly not let our guard down, but there is also not a reason for for panic as a w show has assessed the risk globally to be low. Right issues, everything to collection. Youre alluding to that which will come on to it. And the name is it to you it but 1st full hon said the w h. I have described the g 5 is a variant of interest. What do they mean by that as well . They can. 4 find new, better suspects of interest. There is a very is a very good site claiming that they are worried about that is likely to cause increase home to share their have interest is basically they have finally made up their minds of the watching. Like to have it done before they decide whats the most that so the interests never make it towards standards and so but clearly some of them in the past. So one to watch this, why is it then in this case there is more contrast around the world more coverage about at the g 5 and whats happening with the spread . Im not sure. I mean, weve been seeing you variance every 3 to 4 months. So thats a spread. Typically theyre associated with an increase in case is lovely for a few weeks before then a dying back down to the ultimate be replaced by another new variable. So i didnt see this variance as being any difference too many of the other variables that weve seen in, in, in the last year or so. Well, we have seen these with the weight of infections, certainly in the english states and what shes still pretty reasonable. The east austin way these last few of the people in the hospital. It was fewer people than the previous slide said. This is a virus thats going to be around forever. We know the other human road in viruses. So you variance called escape variance variance that can bypass to a certain extent, problem units. A of the, a saw could be 2 weeks following the door to get all this work. A lot of whats your sense about this using much of a g 5 yet in india, a boy in india, we are dividing only one case of we do fight according to me, we should not do much of a good us to do so. 80 sort of, or did you, did you point by . If you look at the, were jo assisting the, im already in the, uh, one of the very end under warranty. The us didnt, did you end up with this . Then they end up done something and then they end up high cost equals. But if you look at the last 21 months, we did not get any new already or after or equal. And what do what the declared value need to stop. So video is a video x b b 1. 00, which is a somebody and of all week long. So i feel the jump in there for seconds. It just those, those numbers real quick. You know, just explain for, of you as if you would what you mean by that. If youre differentiating between different variants there are you sure. Uh, we have one. Why the, why they, why it is which other one white us after that we have on file be dot dot gamma. And after that one, if she can, but that was fun, not a video. Well, any good, so then it will be, will be dropped off. So it will be grounded as long you will, but in this i will be glad to work and change it to x v be actually be point 11119. 2. And this is a good eightys on easy one. Find it is a, somebody in the x, b, b. So it is block, i will be drunk driving it or you just beginning ive been going, well, big block is already and up. Support actually is putting the what do you have for will be good . Good, good deal. Were not going to be opened up. So would you like to do a report do kitchens for glasses . Business, a topic, airline. Everything opened up. And then also if theres been no looking back. So if we, we, we should look at the project to the open fiction, it would be a driving your inspection. If youre not us, go to that project really is decided to buy, buy things. Number one, how many people like, what oxygen, how many people to go out of bed, and what do you already do . But like what i see you bye for how many people are they quite a big deal again in the book why you call waiting for die. So if the dates and all other books that i would just have little noise, no, i dont think we should be good to go. It is currently whats, whats less so brother and much less so or didnt get us then. I dont know why this is. Yeah, okay. Got it. Oh i thats interesting. Yeah. Give you. Let me just let me know. Well come back to the 2nd. Well come back to you in a 2nd as well. But im still on the point is though the people looking in from the outside would say that it is spreading faster than the variance have that have done before. Is it yeah. So weve seen successive ways of on the crime. So that the variance, so thats uh the x b b a reference that are probably just made. Im not spend the pattern for the last 18 months now. But in certain regions, we see that rate of hospitalization going up and increasing your being one area in the u. K as well thats creeping back up again. So theres going to be potentially going into the full width r s, v and other flu virus says were spear tree viruses that can put a lot of strain on the health system. So think theres, there, there are concerns amongst the leaders of Health Care Systems and hospitals about how this could affect it. That way, if continues, particularly of be quite seen, children will be back in school and our Booster Programs are not fully ready at pull hunter and trisha. Youre an epidemiologist, i can see who want to jump in. Yeah, i think what we have said are comparing the rates of rugs in relationship to other areas. Recently the e g point 5 isnt actually taking over as rapidly as say, some of the other, some of the variance of only calling that weve seen over the last year. So it is, it is still increasing, it probably will lead to some increased exits. The hospitalization right at the moment has been going up in the u. K since january, and i dont think we can blame aging point 5 to that. Well, its been increasing any way possibly because of overseas part of the traveler, which is another risk factor. But also, i think because this is a virus, the unity against infections is very short lived. Whether its from boxing or from a natural infection, by about 4 or 5 months after the infection, all that see about positive people have lost everything they see any way. And so you are going to see these weights of a, of infections that gradually get less in terms of the severity. And i think thats what we, thats what we were expecting about 2 years ago. And thats essentially what we see, e g point 5 will probably lead to more excess of cases rides that will be some increasing hospitalizations. But at the moment in england we, we come from a point at the beginning of july, we had fewer people in the hospital from because of cope with them. Weve had really, since the very 1st weeks of the day. And so we, all the cases hospitalizations have gone up, they go up from a very low thanks. And theres some evidence that asked that so ready, beginning to placid. This is what it said. So with more cases we, we say you say it is not one particularly to worry about this one. But if were getting more more cases for those who are vulnerable, particularly vulnerable to cove, it, it does present a big problem. Does net, especially the elderly, a st bedroom of data. But in that it was that when the Senior Citizens and people read the commodities had seen institution, people who come over these are the some of the other funding. So they may get anything and everything. And we shouldnt look after them even otherwise. So apart from that, theres no method of goods in a bed. You will have to be some cases, even 70 percent off or 70 percent increase. That is 16. 00 of the cases that are gonna be various. Oh, really what it is not grudging. Any problem. Now if you look up the bookings, what, what, what we have a hybrid even or do you have heard of it . It is a natural liberty because of infection. Ive actually, even though the vaccine of it would be as rid of any bidding we ever mean, what does that mean . What it does get activated, but up the same way that supposed to be like why this is attack again, and this other one, what new addition apart from the extra being properly. So with why dont even revision, you can either send me a d. What do you just not causing any problem and so long as not causing any problem, we should not be what i call it. It is e g is a employment, get a d for some people, if you ought to have a broken word. So why does this, you have a bright all of this . We should come up that youre going to be going to send dig policies, anybody to do a poll, could i just come back to you for a 2nd to tell us a little bit more about how these viruses evolve and what the process is and how they reinvent themselves and why, when you say that actually slightly the, the kind of the potency of coated is, is diminishing as time goes on. Why is that the case . What is the thing that they have to see in the bio sick cell probably is. Nevertheless, i think one of the we have got these is immunity. Im. Theres 2 essentially theres 2 types of in unity that we can talk about this a community that starts in fashion, the cetera, like uh, some people card sterilizing. Any routine that a and then the scene you see that prevents to be a disease. Now immunity, the starting faction is spanish. So last thing, even with that, the parents knew variance. And well we see is we most of the new veterans. The mutations are primarily in the areas, but the bottom topics to the coast airlines. And you can see me in the units extended Community Immunity to uh, hello. The infections is much more durable. Its caused by lots of other things, other than the short lived immunity to infection. A t so no new. So im going to go these kill us. So all of these went together and we know that over to an infection or up to back to nation human being sterilizing. It means you spend short live immunities to severe disease. Hospitalization, requiring oxygen that is much more durable. Next, particularly durable. If youve had the same, honestly, pad, uninfected. Well, thats cool. Cyber to new z. So its quite natural that we can expect. Were going to see ways of uh, soft, curvy to infections. The surrender, you know, the severity this, the pressure on hospitals will undoubtedly get continued to get less and less, i think has to the last well really, since the 1st on the chrome way. Right. So its advantage seems just didnt pull it and still need to play a role in all of this looks on the ad will we will people need boosters to deal with easy point 5 and any forthcoming versions . Well, there have been recommendations for the new booster to be a uh, uh, tailored to the um, a cron, uh, subs variance and not to include the original uh, wild virus because that has not been in circulation for so long. That has been the recommendation that has come for us uh to the ca, however, uh it will be important for those timings uh, especially for the vulnerable uh were looking at people who are and you know, compromised elderly people. Even pregnant women were hired clinical risk to get a booster shot, but that booster shot should be an updated version, not the ones that weve had in circulation previously. So this does not seem to be on track to be ready for september in the states. I think theres a bit of a delay before it gets out in october, but i think the timing also matters, but also to, to highlight my colleagues point this will be processed in which um the modification of the tweaking of the boosters for certain populations will be an ongoing process to make sure its as effective as possible. Right. So im, so i know its important to boost community not only for the vulnerable but also for those because as it spreads more and more people to be exposed to it and therefore the possibility of loan cove it hitting people is gonna grow the chances of, of getting it going to grow or, well we, we still have a lot to learn about long clues and, and there is a lot of work to be done even within the medical Community Around recognizing and treating long who read. Certainly, were done with the improved vaccines that well see that this could be in the next step in terms of reducing the burden of long co read. But i think that theres a lot of investment thats needed around this because even with mild cases, those who are fit, young, unhealthy, have developed long coded and, and they do not fall into those risk groups of the most vulnerable. So i think, you know, were a long ways away from actually understanding how to prevent long cupid use of the best bet would be to be vaccinated in to get that booster shot when its ready. Right. And on this subject, vaccinations is with a lot of that of course the global south. We had this whole issue of inequality across the levels off last time around. It didnt get it fast share. What about india . Whats its experience being and, and whats his position now in terms of giving bases to the population. Youre talking about direction. Yeah. A look in yeah, compared to li if we compare our sales with the about fi is that i wanted it back seen or that i wanted to rection indian vaccine, which is that stuff. Jenica article we showed in india that people some of the people to, to go sheets. And this is found to be a better vaccine, then it bothered me with the law. What do i do to do them on a list . It was a fact that i bought it in a different engage in that one that you situation. Im secondly, in the i can make other vaccine even shot respect and all different im always available. So if we all do pick the gutter vaccine with a, a new with even just somebody or it came with a new tv. But ive even said that nobodys going to direction now. Because if we have a flu vaccine, hardly bite, but then for some people to prove action, and this is gurgling, might send them through to dick back. So, you know, good. So you want to do use advisor. The people are not legal dick. The talk goes, wants to come even deal by the 30 percent, but really just as i guess to say what the rivers and population would go to google says you should be top vaccine. Otherwise it is. Uh, not really what, what, what is going to work is because what management, i better go oh, so you guys have done once you get a list as a deluxe word, what you want on this kind of, uh it is the worksheet. Oh, so videos. So been message same, we wouldnt be pregnancy and all you have to do option to grab it. Is that everything is that people are going to bother if this is what you load into florida, you know, things are like, yeah, this is includes a, a and b that obviously this part is into the right of that is go with it. Yeah. So it is yours, so what it was there to go with the pool hunter. We saying that we should be less worried about cov id and its variance like the g point 5. And we should be focusing more on the grates of threats of flu, which comes every winter. Well, i think i think its still too early to stop worrying about it. I wouldnt points that the b o boxing may not generate. So its the as offensive sterilizing. You mean its easy to infection as, as maybe a new variance were it still provides very good protection against small, severe disease, the old, the boxing compared to the bi data boxes. Well, there wasnt that much difference in how well they protected against severe disease. So yeah, i mean, even in the absence of a new boxing, they own the traditional that seems to have substantial value if you are at risk of most severe disease. So, you know, dont, dont, uh, decline because you dont think its the search. Its against the circulating the 18. 00 of the problems we knew we tracing boxing 6 months to base events that weve seen come around, stay around to get literally a mattress a couple of months before another, very a, theyre all only from some thirds. So we will never be in a position, but we can have a new variable. I d, g, uh, point 5, and then generates it back to you before that disappears. And weve got a new variance again. So i think we, uh, the existing vaccines dont provide substantial protection against sure. A severe disease of so on at the beginning of the program. We talked about this issue of data collecting and decreased levels of testing, which i guess it makes it harder to accurately attract you. K with 19 cases and give us the, the quantity of knowledge that we need. Is that the case and how serious the problem is that . Yes, so the World Health Organization has are usually called for governments to maintain their vigilance around monitoring and surveillance so that we can be prepared. Not only for search could be 2 and all the, some variance, but if you can direct. So this is also really important part of pandemic security and is something that we chose discussing in their past pandemic a chord with member states. So i think, you know, we cant just be relying on unlimited tools, the more information we have, the better and, and also just to emphasize that, of course, the, the, the previous, you know, any vaccines for a better, the no vaccine if you are vulnerable. But now that the, the, the wild strain is no longer in, in circulation, it does make sense, Going Forward to have just a broad stroke uh, on the kron focused vaccine. So hopefully we do see that and hopefully music country is taking this seriously in terms of monitoring and surveillance. Because the be a, theres still a lot that we have to learn particularly long cove and burden. And the additional complications to health that will be very costly for societies is why the w insurance says its a mistake for governments to think that type. It is a thing of the past. All governments around the world do you think ready for a major increase in infections this winter approaches to find the fact that these are big done spend . I think the fitness then any time before i can just in lots of good. Yes. So well be waiting for those to take, spend any fitness, what Emergency Preparedness as well with age. So management get us to be, or any of this is brandon makes. And secondly, there should be global head security, which is very weak. And this was going to see if youre seeing the vaccines game, all this going to do is they acquired pipe to say what times, what the little vaccines, the population they would this bother about. This will do what it is. Only india. Weve talked a bit that a board are people looking pretty good visual get vaccine. So theyre going to have security. I think the visuals made that did that should be provided security. They should be nice. Those countries which are being, i guess, the ticket to be the only subject or what do you, what they dont get, the, what the, what the, what do for the people or what does that is a wrong policy . So if we have one of these products, the benefit preparedness and global net security, i think we are all good about us. Yeah, its a pull hon. So it could not go your way. Flew continues to evolve a nearly every year. We need to, to focus on the threats of, you know, coming threats, coming from elsewhere. Different viruses, emoji. Oh, absolutely. I mean, not being graduated just over 40 years ago. And every year since i graduated in mexico that has been long more new infections. Imagine inspections. Imagine infectious disease. Ready and a lot of people, i think, studying from most of the last 20 years, i think the thing about underneath preparedness and weve seen this inc with influenza director, parents in the past, most governments, most of the countrys, most institutions are really well. Okay. So the next time that make a year or 2 after the last 4 on by the and the problem is keeping that momentum. Uh so you know, when, when we used to box it when i was involved in running the vaccination campaign, so they the healthcare stuff because it was easier to get people to be fascinating after the year after that blue that in the year before that flu season and that is how do we do that . How do we t, Public Health results is attention going at the time when you to many of the major problems and its like this, well caring most government slice like styles. And that i think is the challenge. Interesting. Well, thank you guess to all of you for your opinions and the value judgments about all of his pull home talk, send a check and talk to each what canada, thank you so much for joining us today. And thanks to you for watching, you can see the program again at any time by visiting our website. How does 0 dot com for further discussion . Just go to a facebook page. Thats facebook dot com, forward slash a inside story. And you can also join the conversation on twitter. Handle is as a inside story for me in the cloud team. Devices, the the since its inception in 1961, the quite fund has been supporting peoples livelihoods and over 100 countries by funding projects in an array of sectors ranging from infrastructure to health and education. 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