Thailand has confirmed the presence of the Omicron sub-variant HK.3, according to the Department of Medical Sciences (DMS). This new strain of Covid-19 has been identified in two family members, and the DMS has not yet determined its rate of transmission and severity compared to previous variants.
Dr. Supakit Sirilak, the head of DMS, provided details, noting that the HK.3 sub-variant affected a 65-year-old man and an 11-year-old girl living in the same household in Bangkok. Both individuals experienced mild symptoms and have since recovered fully.
Despite concerns raised by a report suggesting that HK.3 may transmit 66% faster than current strains, potentially reaching 96% transmission compared to the XBB.1.16 variant in Thailand, Supakit emphasized the need for caution in drawing conclusions due to the limited data available.
Supakit explained, “There might be some discrepancy in the calculations due to the small number of cases. With only two confirmed cases, it’s too early to make definitive assessments. We should wait a few weeks for a clearer picture.”
To monitor Covid sub-variants in Thailand, the Department of Medical Sciences is actively using whole genome sequencing, a method that identifies sub-variants based on mutations in the virus’s spike protein.
Supakit also mentioned that the most prevalent Covid variant in Thailand is Omicron’s XBB.1.16, accounting for 39.66% of Covid cases, followed by XBB.2.3 at 16.39% and XBB.1.9.1 at 14.66%. He suggested that the EG.5 variant could potentially become dominant due to its transmission capacity, but there is currently no evidence to suggest it is more severe, as reported by the Bangkok Post.
