NTU College of Public Health Analyzes Omicron 分析Omicron 台大公衛:傳播強.病毒量高

The National Taiwan University analyzed Omicron and said "air transmission" is not ruled out as Omicron is more likely to be immune to "escape" due to mutation.

The National Taiwan University College of Public Health took the Hong Kong epidemic as an example. A man who entered Hong Kong from South Africa was quarantined in a hotel and diagnosed with Omicron. A man from Canada quarantined at the same hotel was also diagnosed after five days. The rooms for these two people were across the hall from each other. CCTV showed there was no contact between the two and they only opened their doors when they received their meals. NTU College of Public Health believes that this case highlights Omicron's strong transmission power and does not rule out the possibility of "air transmission."

Chen Hsiu-hsi, Professor, College of Public Health, NTU: “We have never believed the possibility of air transmission from the coronavirus to Omicron. However, as the virus keeps mutating, based on Omicron's strong transmission power and multiple transmission channels. We cannot rule out the possibility of (air transmission.)”

According to research analysis, there are currently 26 point mutations of the Omicron virus. During the mutation process, the "immune escape" is increased. As recent infections in Europe and the United States are rising, many cases are breakthrough infections. However, in the situnation where vaccines are not widely used in South Africa, the transmission speed is even more alarming. In South Africa, the hospitalization rate under the age of 40 for the Omicron virus accounts for 68 percent, and the hospitalization rate for children under five years old is 16 percent. Experts have called for Taiwan to plan ahead for the vaccine's third dose within six months after the second dose.

Lo Yuan-chang, Doctor: “Concentrating vaccine deployment during low vaccination rates is probably the right policy. If you put it out in too many stores and places, there could be an abandonment wave like the previous Moderna vaccine.”

The NTU College of Public Health also observed confirmed cases from abroad in the past two weeks, 61 percent were breakthrough infections, and 33 percent were not vaccinated and had negative reports. NTU suggests borders be tightened as Omicron proliferates. The number and time of vaccines received by inbound passengers should be regulated before they enter the country so Taiwan has a chance to secure itself against the virus.

 

台大公衛學院以香港疫情為例，一名從南非入境香港的男子，到防疫旅館中隔離中確診Omicron，相隔五天，旅館對門、自加拿大入境香港隔離的男子也確診，2人房間就在對面，調閱監視器沒有接觸，兩人僅有拿餐時各自開門。台大公衛學院認為這個案例凸顯Omicron傳播力極強、不排除「空氣傳播」可能。

台大公衛學院教授陳秀熙指出:「從新冠肺炎發展以來，一直到Omicorn，我們一直都不太相信對於空氣接觸這件事情，但是隨著新變種病毒的演進，這麼高的傳播力，Omicorn它的傳播力強，多重管道得這樣的一個接觸，（空氣傳播）是不能夠排除的。」

學者分析，目前已知Omicron病毒有26個變異點，在變異過程中增加免疫脫逃，觀察歐美近期疫情升溫，很多都是突破性感染，而在南非疫苗施打不普及的狀況下，傳播速度更是驚人。南非當地因確診Omicron病毒的40歲以下住院率佔了68%，而5歲以下兒童也有16%的高住院率， 學者呼籲要台灣應該要超前部署，施打完整兩劑後，六個月內要趕快打第三劑。

醫師羅源彰說:「在一個打氣比較低迷的疫苗做集中的施打，其實這樣的政策應該是對的，如果又丟到太多的賣場，跟散布到太多的地方可以施打，那就有可能跟之前莫德納疫苗（出現）棄打潮。」

另外台大公衛學院也提出建議，觀察近兩周台灣境外移入確診個案，有61% 是突破性感染，更有33%是沒打疫苗僅持有陰性報告，呼籲在Omicron擴散之際邊境應該要拉高規格，規範入境旅客施打疫苗的劑數和時間才有機會守住國境。