(Fighting New Coronary Pneumonia) China Disease Control Expert: A large number of asymptomatic or latent infections make it more difficult to control the epidemic in a timely manner
China News Agency, Beijing, March 22nd (Reporter Li Chun) In response to the severe situation facing China’s new crown epidemic prevention and control, Wu Zunyou, chief epidemiologist of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said in Beijing on the 22nd that a large number of asymptomatic or hidden infections have made the discovery of the epidemic more difficult. It is difficult to control the epidemic in a timely manner.
The Joint Prevention and Control Mechanism of the State Council held a press conference on the same day to introduce the relevant situation of epidemic prevention and control. In response to the severity, particularity and characteristics of the current epidemic, Wu Zunyou said in his analysis that the current epidemic should first be considered in the international context of the fourth wave of the new crown epidemic in the world.
He pointed out that the fourth wave of the global epidemic originated in Africa. Since November last year, it has gradually spread from Africa to Europe and the Americas, and then spread from European and American countries to other countries in the world. From a global perspective, the Western Pacific region is currently at the peak of the epidemic. Affected by the high epidemic situation in neighboring countries and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the number of imported cases outside China has increased significantly recently, and the pressure on foreign defense imports has increased significantly.
Wu Zunyou said that from the perspective of the virus, the virus that caused the fourth global epidemic is the Omicron variant strain, which has a fast spread, short incubation period, recessive infection and mild cases. relatively high features. This makes it more difficult to detect outbreaks as early as possible, and makes it more difficult to implement prevention and control efforts.
Thirdly, Wu Zunyou pointed out that now 90% of people have acquired a certain degree of immunity against the new coronavirus through vaccination. In this case, the symptoms of infection with the new coronavirus are mild or no symptoms. , which is very good for the individual and will not cause more harm. From the perspective of epidemic prevention and control, a large number of asymptomatic or recessive infections have made the detection of the epidemic more difficult and made it more difficult to control the epidemic in a timely manner.
In addition, he pointed out that the role of asymptomatic infected persons in the spread of the epidemic has been very different. A year ago, due to the relatively small number of asymptomatic infections, their role in the spread of the epidemic was very limited. Now, due to a large number of asymptomatic infections, or particularly mild cases, they play a role in the spread of the epidemic. To a very important role, this also adds difficulties to the prevention and control work.
“Based on the above four considerations, we still adhere to the policy of ‘dynamic clearing’, but it is more difficult for us to achieve the clearing goal of ‘dynamic clearing’ than before, which requires us to be more Early detection of the epidemic situation, faster measures to be taken, and the implementation of various measures need to be more thorough.” Wu Zunyou said. (End)