Health. New variant of Covid-19: a dozen cases identified in France

Will we have to be extra vigilant this summer? Several signals are likely to put us on alert and bring back bad memories. According to the Public Health France bulletin of Wednesday, May 28, "an increase in visits [to emergency rooms] for Covid-19 has been observed among adults." Speaking to the newspaper Le Monde , Bruno Lina, director of the National Center for Respiratory Viruses in Lyon, also notes "the beginning of an epidemic resurgence, but the size of which is uncertain." The increase remains very small: "+25% or +41 visits among 15-74 year-olds, and +32% or +44 visits among those 75 and over."

An epidemic resurgence in Southeast Asia

The concern is particularly based on the arrival of the new NB.1.8.1 variant , belonging to the Omicron sublineage, on French territory. Indeed, a dozen cases have been identified in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Nouvelle-Aquitaine. First identified last January, this strain is suspected by scientists of being the cause of an outbreak of cases in Southeast Asia, particularly in Hong Kong, where the epidemic has reached record levels for more than a year.

In addition, specialists fear what is called "immune escape," that is, the mutation state of the virus that would allow it to elude the immunity acquired through contamination by its predecessors or vaccination, according to a Chinese study published on May 1, which has not yet been reviewed by other researchers. It would also have a growth advantage of more than 80%, which allows it to penetrate and reproduce more quickly in our cells, thereby increasing its transmissibility.

Currently, in France, it represents "more than 5% of the viruses circulating," a very low percentage, insists Bruno Lina to Le Monde . However, "all the conditions are in place for a significant recovery."

Vaccination coverage far from optimal

Indeed, our collective immunity to the virus has diminished considerably given its low circulation in recent months. Furthermore, vaccination coverage is far from optimal, particularly for populations at risk of severe disease.

Indeed, at the end of February, only 21.7% of people aged 65 and over had been vaccinated, and 8.2% of those under 65. NB.1.8.1 was classified as a variant under surveillance (VUS) by the World Health Organization on May 23, the lowest alert level...for now.