Taiwan reports 26 cases infected with BA.4, BA.5 subvariants
ROC Central News Agency
06/15/2022 06:07 PM
Taipei, June 15 (CNA) The Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) reported Wednesday that 26 travelers to Taiwan have been determined through genome sequencing to be infected with the Omicron subvariants BA.4 or BA.5, bringing the total number of such cases to 31.
The seven BA.4 cases Taiwan has detected so far were arrivals from the United States, Australia, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and Chile, said Lo Yi-chun (羅一鈞), deputy head of the CECC's medical response division.
The 24 BA.5 cases were found among those traveling from the U.S., Germany, Spain, Singapore, Australia, Turkey, Poland, South Korea, and El Salvador, according to Lo.
The 31 cases tested positive when they arrived in Taiwan between May 30 to June 7, Lo said.
BA.4 and BA.5 were first detected in South Africa in January and February 2022, respectively, and triggered a new wave of COVID-19 infections in the country between April and May, according to the CECC.
The two subvariants can evade immunity from prior infections and appear to be more transmissible than the original Omicron variant.
To date, the two subvariants have spread to more than 40 countries and regions, including Singapore, South Korea, and Japan, according to World Health Organization data.
To prevent the subvariants from spreading into the community, Lo said Wednesday that they would conduct more genome sequencing among airport and harbor personnel who test positive for COVID-19.
The CECC will also submit a proposal to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) on administering a second booster shot to airport and harbor personnel as well as quarantine hotel employees.
Currently, seniors aged 65 and above, residents of long-term care facilities, individuals aged 18 and above who are immunocompromised, and medical workers are eligible to receive a second booster shot.
(By Chiang Yi-ching)
Enditem/HY
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