Is the "Hellhound" variant "killing people like crazy" in Japan? Here's the truth!

Since the global outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the virus has undergone multiple rounds of mutations. Data from the Global Influenza Sharing Database (GISAID) from October 3 to 9 showed that BQ.1* (BQ.1 series strains) have been found in 65 countries. It is said online that "the strain is highly contagious and lethal, and is called the 'Hellhound', and has been 'killing people like crazy' in Japan." So, what is the truth?

According to the China CDC WeChat official account, the Institute of Viral Diseases of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention issued a statement in response. The full text is as follows:

Earlier, The Paper and People’s Daily pointed out:

"Hellhound" is a nickname used by netizens on social platforms for BQ.1.1, and it is not an official name.

Since Japan entered winter, it has experienced a new wave of epidemics, with the number of new deaths per million people increasing every day. However, there is no evidence that the increase in the number of deaths is directly related to the emergence of BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 strains. At present, there has been no large-scale BQ.1.1 epidemic in Japan, and the dominant strain in Japan is still BA.5.

Japanese media recently reported that a study showed that three antiviral drugs approved by Japan can effectively inhibit the growth of BQ.1.1 and another Omicron subtype strain XBB. This means that even if infected with BQ.1.1, COVID-19 patients in Japan are not without medicine.

A statement issued by the WHO's Technical Advisory Group on Novel Coronavirus Evolution (TAG-VE) mentioned that the BQ.1* virus may have greater immune escape advantages than other subtypes.

Members of Japan's health ministry's coronavirus expert panel said that although BQ.1 may be more easily transmitted, the risk of infected patients developing severe illness is basically the same as that for patients infected with the BA.5 strain.

Source: China CDC WeChat Official Account, China News Service WeChat Official Account, The Paper WeChat Official Account, @People's Daily

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