Covid-19: Infectious new ‘Kraken’ subvariant arrives in NZ

‘Oku taupotu ‘i lalo ha fakamatala fakaTonga

The new Omicron subvariant dubbed “Kraken” has been detected in New Zealand for the first time according to the Ministry of Health.

“The Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR) reported the whole genome sequencing results for two Covid-19 cases with XBB.1.5 late last week,” the ministry said in a statement this afternoon.

The World Health Organization’s (WHO) senior epidemiologist Maria Van Kerkhove last week said XBB.1.5 is the most transmissible Omicron sub-variant detected so far.

It spreads rapidly because of the mutations it contains, allowing it to adhere to cells and replicate easily.

The subvariant is fast becoming dominant in the US, leading to a rise in hospitalisations of worst affected areas, according to leading epidemiologist Dr Eric Feigl Ding.

“The detection of XBB.1.5 is not unexpected, following its recent detection in Australia and globally, and our Covid-19 response accounts for the emergence of new variants,” the ministry said.

“So far, most Omicron variants have not demonstrated a change in severity of the disease, and there is no evidence at this stage to indicate XBB.1.5 causes more severe disease compared to other variants.”

It comes as there were 21,685 new Covid-19 cases reported in New Zealand over the past week.

It continues a trend of falling case numbers over the last two weeks, however its unclear how the holiday period has affected people logging their positive tests online.

The Ministry of Health said it “remains unknown” how the Kraken subvariant will compete against other Covid variants in New Zealand.

“Relative to many other parts of the world, New Zealand currently has a high level of immunity based on high vaccine uptake, combined with a recent wave of infections (so-called ‘hybrid immunity’).

Vaccines are still expected to provide protection against severe disease from XBB.1.5, particularly in those who have received boosters. We encourage people to get their vaccine and booster doses when they fall due,” the ministry said.

FAKAMATALA FAKATONGA

Fakatatau ki he Potungāue Mo’ui ‘a Nu’usila, ko e kalasi fo’ou ko ia ‘o e Omicron ‘oku taku ko e “Kraken” pe tēvolo tahi ko e fuofua taimi ‘eni ke ma’alifekina ai ‘i Nu’usila.
Na’e pehē ‘i he fakamatala ‘a e potungāue ‘i he ho’atāa ni, Na’e lipooti mei he Ako’anmga ki he Saienisi ‘o e ‘Ātakai mo e Fakatotolo [ESR] ‘a e ola ‘o e ongo keisi ‘e ua ‘o e Kōviti – 19 pea mo e XBB.1.5 na’e lava ‘o sivi ‘auliliki ‘o mahino ‘a e fa’unag ‘o e fanga ki’i me’a mo’ui ni, ‘i he faka’osinga ‘o e uike kuo ‘osi.
Na’e pehē ‘e ha toko taha ma’olunga ‘i he mala’e fakafaito’o mei he Kautaha Mo’ui ‘a Māmani ‘i he uike kuo ‘osi, ko e kalasi fo’ou ko ia ‘o e Omicron ko e XBB.1.5 ‘oku ‘ilo ‘oku fu’u vave ‘aupito ‘ene mafola.
‘Oku vave ‘ene mafola koe’uhi ko e ivi maliuliu ko ia ‘oku ne ma’u, ‘oku ne fakafaingofua’i ai ‘e ia ‘a ia ke vave ‘ene pipiki ki he fanga ki’i ivi malu’i [cell] ‘o na fefa’uhi lelei.
 Ko e kalasi fo’ou ni ‘oku vave ‘aupito ‘ene hoko ‘o mafola lahi ‘i ‘Amelika, ;o hoko ai ha toe kaka ki ‘olunga ‘a e kau tākoto falemahaki, ‘i he ngaahi feitu’u ko ē ‘oku uesia kovi, fakatatau ki he lau ‘a e takimu’a ‘i he mala’e faito’o ko Dr Eric Feigl Ding
Kōviti – 19: ‘Oku holo ‘a e toko lahi ‘o e kau puke kuo lipooti ki he toko uamano tahaafe onongeau valungofulu mā nima [21685].
Na’e pehē ‘e he potungāue ” ‘e ‘ikai fai ha ofo ‘o ka ‘asi ‘a e XBB.1.5 hili ko ia ‘a hono ma’alifekina ‘i ‘Aositelēlia mo e toenga ‘o māmani, pea mo ‘etau ngaahi fakamatala tali ki ha hoko mai ‘a ha kalasi fo’ou, “
” Ko ‘ene tu’u ko ē ‘i he taimi ni, ko e lahi taha ‘o e kalasi ko ‘eni ko Omicron ‘oku te’eki ke pehē kuo hoko ha liliu ai ‘o toe fakatu’utāmaki ange ai ‘a mahaki, pea ‘oku te’eki ha fakamo’oni ‘i he tu’unga lolotonga ni ke ‘asi mai ai ‘oku ‘i ai ha tu’unga fakatu’utāmaki ange ‘a e kau puke ko ia ‘i he XBB.1.5 ‘i hono fakahoa ki he toenga ‘o e kalasi vailasi kehe.”
‘Oku a’u leva ki he toko uamano tahaafe onongeau valungofulu mā nima [21685] ‘o e kau puke ‘i he Kōviti – 19 kuo lipooti ‘i Nu’usila ‘i he kakato ‘o e uike kuo ‘osi.
‘Oku hokohoko ai pē ‘a ‘ene holo vave ki lalo ‘a e toko lahi ‘i he uike ‘e ua ko ‘eni kuo ‘osi, kae kehe ‘oku ‘ikai mahino pe ‘e fēfē ha uesia ‘o e vaa’i taimi mālōlō ‘a e kakai ‘oku tuku mai ko ia he ope ‘a honau ngaahi sivi positivi.
Na’e pehē ‘e he Potungāue Mo’ui ‘oku ke tu’u ta’emahino pē ‘a e anga ko ia ‘o e fe’auhi ‘a e kalasi vailasi fo’ou ko e tēvolo tahi [Kraken] mo e toenga ‘o e kalasi vailasi kehe ‘i Nu’usila.
“Felāve’i mo e ngaahi feitu’u kehekehe ‘o māmani, ‘Oku tu’u ‘a Nu’usila ko e ma’olunga taha ia ‘o e tu’unga malu ‘o ‘uhinga ‘eni ‘i he toko lahi ‘a e kakai kuo nau kau ki he huhu malu’i, fakataha’i atu ki ai mo e ta’au ko ia ‘a e pipihi ki mui ni mai ‘a e kalasi ‘oku ‘iloa ko e ‘hybrid immunity’.
Na’e pehē ‘e he potungāue, ko e huhu malu’i ‘oku  tu’unga ai ‘a e ‘amanaki ki ha malu’i ‘o ha puke lalahi mei he XBB.1.5, tautefito kia kinautolu kuo huhu tu’o tolu [boosters]. ‘Oku mau fakalotolahi’i ai ‘a e kakai ke fakahoko honau huhu tu’o tolu ‘i he’ene a’u ko ia ki he taimi ke fakahoko ai.