UGM Predicts Omicron XBB Entered Yogyakarta in October

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Genetic Working Group of the Faculty of Medicine, Public Health and Nursing (FKKMK) from Gadjah Mada University (UGM) estimates that the Covid-19 subvariant Omicron XBB has entered the Special Region of Yogyakarta since the month of October. The head of the working group, Gunadi, said that the prediction was based on the trend of daily Covid-19 cases in Yogyakarta, which has increased in recent weeks.

"Our prediction is that the XBB will enter Yogyakarta in October because the number of cases has increased compared to August and September," Gunadi said on Friday, November 4, 2022.

Based on local government data, the number of Covid-19 daily cases has been surging since mid-October, reaching 50 cases per day. The peak was on November 2, with 139 cases reported in one day, far exceeding the 20-30 daily average in August and September

Referring to the results of whole genome sequencing (WGS) on partial samples collected between August and September, no traces of the subvariant XBB were found.

According to Gunadi, the monkey group will continue to examine samples using the WGS method for samples for the October and November periods.

Gunadi explained that the new XBB variant is the result of the evolution of the Omicron variant, so it has the same basic properties as Omicron in terms of transmission speed. The subvariant is also considered to have the same ability as the Omicron BQ.1.1 when it comes to the immune system.

ANTARA

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