Peru detects presence of Omicron subvariant XBB.1.5

STORY: Peru detects presence of Omicron subvariant XBB.1.5 DATELINE: Jan. 17, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:54 LOCATION: Lima CATEGORY: HEALTH SHOTLIST: 1. various of medics working 2. various of street views in Peru 3. various of people receiving vaccines STORYLINE: The National Institute of Health in Peru detected three cases of Omicron subvariant XBB.1.5 this week in Lima through genomic surveillance, as was confirmed by the Ministry of Health on Sunday. Through a statement, the institution explained that the finding of the INS Genomic Surveillance Team "implies that there may be more related cases and there could be an increase of cases" of COVID-19 in the coming weeks. The new subvariant is a descendant of the Omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which is the cause of COVID-19, and it has been identified in 38 countries, the institute declared. The identification of the Omicron sublineage XBB.1.5 in the Peruvian capital comes at a time when the country is going through its fifth wave of infections, althou

Travel restrictions against Chinese tourists "ridiculous": media

STORY: Travel restrictions against Chinese tourists "ridiculous": media reports DATELINE: Jan. 13, 2023 LENGTH: 00:02:05 LOCATION: Beijing CATEGORY: POLITICS/HEALTH SHOTLIST: 1. various of airplanes and Chinese tourists 2. various of screenshots of headlines STORYLINE: Travel restrictions imposed by a few countries on Chinese tourists are "ridiculous," said some media reports on the latest discriminatory entry requirements targeting China. On Saturday, an article published by the Atlantic agreed that these measures have "no scientific basis" and pointed out that "travel restrictions can't stop COVID from crossing borders." The story goes on to say that the vast majority of China's locally acquired cases are being caused by two Omicron lineages that are "old news elsewhere." And now, the article says, the most dangerous new variant is "from New York -- XBB.1.5 -- which the U.S. is now busy exporting to the rest of the world." TodayOnline, a Singaporean news website, quoted infectious disease experts as s

New COVID variant sweeping U.S. of "major concern" but Europe well-placed to resist: Spanish expert

STORY: New COVID variant sweeping U.S. of "major concern" but Europe well-placed to resist: Spanish expert DATELINE: Jan. 6, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:30 LOCATION: BARCELONA, Spain CATEGORY: HEALTH SHOTLIST: 1. SOUNDBITE 1 (Spanish): JULIA BLANCO, Head of the Cell Virology and Immunology (VIC) group at IrsiCaixa Institute 2. SOUNDBITE 2 (Spanish): JULIA BLANCO, Head of the Cell Virology and Immunology (VIC) group at IrsiCaixa Institute STORYLINE: A new COVID variant sweeping the United States is the "major cause of concern" in the evolution of the pandemic, but Europe's high vaccination level means it is well-placed to resist the new strain, a leading Spanish virologist has told Xinhua. SOUNDBITE 1 (Spanish): JULIA BLANCO, Head of the Cell Virology and Immunology (VIC) group at IrsiCaixa Institute "What's happening in the United States is that this new variant has appeared, XBB.1.5, which seems to be more transmissible, with a few different mutations, and which is causing a surge in infections in the U.S. and wh

Omicron variant XBB.3 feared to be dominant in India in a month: report

STORY: Omicron variant XBB.3 feared to be dominant in India in a month: report DATELINE: Oct. 26, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:30 LOCATION: New Delhi CATEGORY: HEALTH SHOTLIST: 1. various of India gate 2. various of crowded market areas 3. various of people receiving COVID-19 testing 4. various of the hospital area 5. various of street views STORYLINE: The Omicron sub-variant XBB, particularly XBB.3, is likely to be the dominant strain of the COVID-19 virus in India within a month, reported The Times of India newspaper on Tuesday citing scientists. According to the report, there were 71 confirmed cases of XBB-driven COVID-19 infection in India at the beginning of this month, and the number jumped to 136 by Oct. 23. "On Monday the case count was 235," it added. It quoted a senior scientist with the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) as saying that the XBB.3 strain is currently leading the pack in India "with maximum cases." According to the report, the eastern state of West Bengal has reported the hig