Is BF.7 subvariant a threat to Malaysians?

SHAH ALAM - Health experts are of the view that Malaysians previously infected by Covid-19 are at risk of reinfection from the BF.7 subvariant as they have yet to develop immunity against it.

Universiti Putra Malaysia Medicine and Health Sciences Faculty Senior Medical Lecturer Associate Professor Dr Rosliza Abd Manaf said the effectiveness of the Covid-19 vaccine will decrease after six months of the last dose or 3rd vaccination (booster).

"The BF.7 subvariant is the latest subvariant.

"Before it spread in China, it had infected individuals in the United States and Europe.

"Individuals who have been infected are at risk of the new infection because they most likely haven't developed an immunity towards the subvariant," she told Sinar.

The new Covid-19 Omicron subvariant BF.7 was believed to be behind the recent surge of infections in China.

BF.7 short for BA.5.2.1.7 was from the Omicron BA.5 variant and was detected globally in July 2022.

Rosliza believed that the implementation screening tests such as Covid-19 Antigen rapid test kit (RTK) was more practical compared to an additional vaccine dose for each individual.

"The variant doesn't matter, it will always bring harm to any country if it is not screened.

"From a public health point of view, I urge for tourists or anyone from China to be screened with an RTK test just like what is being done in Canada and India, only those (tourists) who were negative would be allowed entry," she said.