“The number of cases does not meet the threshold for inclusion in the Covid Data Tracker Dashboard,” said a CDC spokesperson.
A Covid-19 variant that led to a resurgence in cases in China has been found in the US, confirming the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but the agency has shown that fewer than 20 cases have been found in the US so far.
A CDC spokesperson told the Epoch Times on May 25 that he was aware of reported cases of China’s Covid-19 Nb.1.8.1 and is in regular contact with international partners.”
Several cases of NB.1.8.1 have been found in the US, a spokesman said it was “less than 20 sequences of previous US baseline surveillance data.”
“We have not met the threshold for inclusion in the Covid Data Tracker Dashboard. We monitor all SARS-COV-2 sequences. If we increase proportionally, it will appear on the data tracker dashboard,” the spokesman said.
Strain NB.1.8.1 is a derivative of the XDV Covid-19 strain, and is circulating in sublayers for several months around the world, including mainland China.
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Dr. Li Tongzeng, director of the infectious diseases division at Beijing You Hospital, told Chinese state media that the revival of Covid-19 is expected to peak in late May.
Dr. Jonathan Liu, a professor at the Canadian School of Traditional Chinese Medicine and director of Kanmai TCM Clinic, said the data released by Chinese health authorities in March seemed inaccurate or misleading, saying only a small number of deaths have been reported.
“At normal rates, people like this are hard to believe,” Liu told the Epoch Times last week.
“Canada has a sparse population and abundant sanitary conditions, and reported 1,915 COVID deaths between August last year and May this year, more than 200 per month.
“Does China, which has a dense population, only seven people die each month?”
The WHO also said that “reported cases and hospitalizations have been reported in reporting countries, but “no reports suggest that the severity of related diseases is higher compared to other circulating variants.”
The WHO document dated May 29th did not specifically name the countries affected by the stock.
“The available evidence for NB.1.8.1 does not suggest additional public health risks compared to other omicron offspring strains currently circulating,” the WHO said, referring to the Covid-19 variant that emerged in late 2021.
According to WHO documents, the currently approved vaccine is expected to be effective against the variant.
“In some countries where NB.1.8.1 is widespread, despite the concurrent rise in cases and hospitalizations, WHO said, “Current data do not show that this variant leads to more serious illness than other variants in the circulation.”
Indian health officials have also responded to reports that the variant has led to China’s revival. In an interview with PTI News Agency, Delhi Health Minister Pankaji Singh said on May 26 there was no need to panic.
“There’s no need to worry. Covid caused by new variants is similar to normal viral diseases. Patients who have come to this point have experienced mild symptoms, such as fever, cough and cold.”
Maryman contributed to this report.
