Omicron has higher risk of reinfection than Delta and Beta variants: Singapore's health ministry
Singapore, Dec 6: Singapore's Ministry of Health has said that early clinical observations globally suggest that the Omicron variant of COVID-19 may be more transmissible and have a higher risk of reinfection compared to the Delta and Beta variants of the virus.
"This means that there is a higher likelihood of individuals who have recovered from COVID-19 to be reinfected with the Omicron variant," Channel News Asia quoted the ministry as saying on Sunday in an update on the Omicron variant.
Meanwhile, the city-state reported one more "preliminarily positive" Omicron case on Sunday. The 37-year old vaccinated permanent resident was on the same flight as two other "preliminary positive" cases that landed here from South Africa on December 1.
On Sunday, Singapore also reported 552 new COVID-19 cases and 13 deaths linked to the coronavirus.
The ministry said it has, over the past several days, reviewed reports from South Africa and other countries, and actively engaged experts in affected countries to obtain first-hand information.
"This press release updates our understanding of the Omicron variant, even while many questions remain with no clear answers," the Channel quoted MOH.
With the new variant spreading globally, Singapore "must expect to detect more cases at our borders and, in time to come, also within our community", MOH cautioned.
Studies on whether existing COVID-19 vaccines are effective against the new variant are ongoing, but "there is an emerging view amongst scientists around the world that existing COVID-19 vaccines will still work on the Omicron variant, especially in protecting people against severe illness," the MOH said.
The ministry urged those eligible to get themselves vaccinated or go for their booster jabs, saying there is strong scientific consensus that doing so will protect against any existing and future variants of COVID-19.
Addressing concerns regarding the severity of the strain of the virus, the MOH said Omicron cases have "mostly displayed mild symptoms, and no Omicron-related deaths have been reported so far".
Common symptoms reported include sore throat, tiredness and cough, the ministry added.
As for reports that there were more Omicron-related hospitalisations among younger people in South Africa, the ministry said this could be due to an overall high infection rate among the population.
Another factor could be that existing patients hospitalised for non-COVID-19 related reasons could have tested positive for the variant while in hospital. "Having said that, it is early days to conclude on the severity of the disease," the MOH said.
The Omicron outbreak was first detected in a university town with a younger demographic.
According to the South African health experts, any hospitalisation stays for this demographic thus far have been short, of about one to two days.
MOH said it would need to collect more information on older individuals infected with the Omicron variant to assess if it is more severe than the Delta variant.
The ministry said studies so far show antigen rapid tests, in addition to the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, are effective in detecting COVID-19 infection, including Omicron cases.
"Testing, therefore, remains key to our early detection and initial containment of transmission," the MOH added.
The ministry also said it would "continue to coordinate with health authorities globally to study and understand the Omicron variant, so as to develop the best possible response".
The MOH's update comes after two imported cases in Singapore tested "preliminarily positive" for the Omicron COVID-19 variant on Thursday.
The passengers were isolated after arriving from South Africa on a Singapore Airlines flight on December 1, and did not have any community interaction, the ministry said last week.
Both of them were fully vaccinated and had mild symptoms of cough and scratchy throat. Their confirmatory test results are still pending, the MOH said.
The third case's pre-departure test in Johannesburg on November 29 was negative for COVID-19, said the MOH.
He was taken to a stay-home notice dedicated facility upon arrival in Singapore, and his PCR tests on December 1 and 3 came back negative, the ministry said.
He developed fever and sore throat on December 4 and was taken to the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID), where he tested "preliminarily positive" for the Omicron variant, the Health Ministry said.
The man is fully vaccinated and has mild symptoms. He is currently recovering in an isolation ward at NCID, said the MOH, adding that "he had not interacted in the community, and there is currently no evidence of any community transmission from the case".
The National Public Health Laboratory is conducting whole genome sequencing to confirm the variant.
As of Sunday, Singapore has reported 2,69,211 COVID-19 cases and 759-coronavirus linked deaths since the pandemic began last year.
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4 children test HIV positive in MP govt hospital; contaminated blood transfusion suspected
Satna/Bhopal (PTI): Four children suffering from thalassemia have tested HIV positive at Satna District Hospital in Madhya Pradesh allegedly due to contaminated blood transfusions, officials said on Tuesday.
The case is four months old and an investigation is underway into it, an official said.
Officials suspect the use of contaminated needles or blood transfusions for the spread of infection to the children.
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MP Health Minister Rajendra Shukla told reporters in Bhopal that he has ordered a probe into the matter and sought a report.
“It is also being investigated whether the blood transfusion took place in other hospitals also or only in the government hospital,” he said.
The affected children, aged between 12 and 15 years, received blood transfusions from the hospital's blood bank, as per an official.
Devendra Patel, in-charge of the blood bank at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel District Hospital in Satna, said four children have tested HIV positive and an investigation is underway to determine how they got infected.
"Either an infected needle was used or a blood transfusion occurred. These are the two main reasons I believe. Blood transfusion seems to be the most likely cause," he told PTI Videos.
All these children suffer from thalassemia, and some have received 80 or 100 blood transfusions, he said.
A family member of one of the affected children said that their child was found to be HIV positive during a routine checkup about four months back, and he has been receiving medication, but it had proven to be of no use.
After taking the medication for HIV, the child starts vomiting, feels low and becomes ill, he said.
After the four children were detected with HIV infection, their family members were also tested and the results came out negative, he added.
The Opposition Congress targeted the government over the matter and demanded the resignation of Health Minister Shukla.
Speaking to reporters in Bhopal, Congress MLA and former minister Sachin Yadav claimed such incidents were continuously occurring in Madhya Pradesh.
Earlier, a case of toxic cough syrup came to light in Chhindwara, followed by incidents of rat bites at hospitals in Indore and Satna, and now children have been given HIV-infected blood, he said.
"The health minister is unable to manage the department. He should resign. A murder case should be filed against those responsible for the Satna incident," Yadav said.
Senior Congress leader Sajjan Singh Verma termed it a failure of the government. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav's government has no connection with ground realities, he charged.
"Somewhere rats are roaming in hospitals, somewhere children are being given HIV-infected blood. Instead of preventing HIV, you are spreading it. Mohan Yadav should wake up from his slumber. Children are the nation's heritage and should be taken care of," he added.
