New HK strain found in Thailand

Supakit Sirilak, director-general of the Department of Medical Sciences.
Supakit Sirilak, director-general of the Department of Medical Sciences.

The Public Health Ministry on Monday reported four cases of coronavirus infections which it suspects may be caused by a new strain responsible for the Covid-19 outbreak in Hong Kong.

Supakit Sirilak of the Department of Medical Sciences said the majority of the cases found in Thailand in the current outbreak were caused by the BA.2 sub-variant of the Omicron strain.

Out of more than 2,000 samples, 99.7% were found to be the Omicron variant. Four, however, were suspected to be the BA2.2 sub-variant.

The patients -- three Thais and a foreigner -- had mild symptoms, but have since fully recovered.

"There is no need to panic as there are no worrying signs. But we have to be vigilant and answer three questions -- does it spread more quickly? Will it cause more deaths and can it evade our efforts to boost immunity?" Dr Supakit said.

Meanwhile, the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) may further ease disease control measures in its Friday meeting, as authorities believe the country's public health system can handle a surge in infections.

Vocabulary

  • evade: to avoid or escape from someone or something - หลีกเลี่ยง
  • handle: to be able deal with a situation - ควบคุมได้, จัดการได้
  • immunity: protected from a disease naturally by the body - ภูมิคุ้มกันโรค, ภูมิต้านทานโรค
  • majority: more than 50 percent of a group - เสียงส่วนใหญ่
  • mild: not strong - เบา, ไม่หนัก, ไม่รุนแรง
  • panic: a sudden strong feeling of fear or worry that causes you to be unable to think clearly or calmly - ความตื่นตกใจ
  • sub-: a smaller part of a bigger thing or group -
  • symptoms (noun): signs that someone has an illness - อาการ
  • variant: a thing that is a slightly different form or type of something else - สิ่งที่ผันแปร, สิ่งที่แตกต่างกัน
  • vigilant: always being careful to notice things, especially possible danger - ซึ่งระแวดระวัง, ซึ่งดูแลความปลอดภัย
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