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Fiji gets ready to deal with covid surge

By
Kaniva Staff
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By rnz.co.nz and is republished with permission.

‘Oku taupotu ‘i lalo ha fakamatala fakaTonga

Fiji is preparing for another Covid-19 surge after the country’s push for tourism partnerships with China and appearance of a new variant.

Early this month, Fiji’s Tourism Minister Viliame Gavoka said the country would boost marketing efforts with China after his call with chargé d’affaires and Political Counselor, Wang Xuguang.

With the country’s recent detection of the XBB.1.5 variant of Covid-19 – nicknamed The Kraken – and China’s loosening of its Covid-related border restrictions, Fijian authorities are ramping up their detection methods.

A Ministry of Health official said Fiji would start to distinguish between the different variants of Covid-19 using genomic sequencing.

“No we haven’t separated them yet. We’ve been able to do genomic sequencing fairly recently and we are testing that now.

“Which means that anyone, any person of interest who develops symptoms, if they do test positive we will definitely do genomic sequencing here now that we can do it locally.”

The official said Fiji does not require proof of a negative test for now, as authorities are hoping border restrictions in other countries will offer a layer of protection.

“Because we don’t have any direct flights from China and we know that other countries are demanding testing before they arrive to their country.

“So it means they get tested before they reach Fiji. At least that’s a layer or filter for us. But Fiji is not demanding a negative test.”

While there are currently no direct flights from China to Fiji, tourists can come via Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong and Los Angeles.

Fiji’s border is open to fully-vaccinated travellers only.

FAKAMATALA FAKATONGA

‘Oku tu’u mateuteu ‘a Fiji ia ki ha toe fetaulaki fefeka mo e Kōviti – 19 hili ia ha teke ‘a e fonua ke fai ha fengāue’aki fakatakimamata mo Siaina pea mo e toe ‘asi mai ko ia ‘a e kalasi vailasi fo’ou.
Na’e pehē ‘e he minisitā ki he Takimamata ‘a Fisi, Gavoka ‘e hiki’i ‘a e ivi ngāue fakamāketi mo Siaina ‘i he ‘osi ko ia ‘ene talanoa mo e Konisela Fale’i fakapolitikale ko Wang Xuguang.
Mei hono ‘ilo’i ko ia ‘i he fonua ‘a e kalasi vailasi fo’ou ko ia ‘O E kŌVITI – 19 ko e XBB.1.5, ‘o ui fakatenetene ‘aki ‘a e Kraken pe ko e fu’u tēvolo tahi – pea ‘oku fakangalokuloku ai ‘e Siaina ‘ene fakataputapui ko ia ‘o e Kōvioti ke taki taha nofo ma’u ‘i hono feitu’u, kuo filio’i ai ‘e he kau ma’u mafai ‘o Fisi ‘enau founga siofi ke ‘ilo ha me’a ‘oku puli.
Na’e pehē ‘e ha ‘ōfisa mei he Potungāue Mo’ui ‘e kamata ‘e Fisi ‘a hono fakafaikehekehe’i ‘o e kalasi kehekehe ‘o e vailasi Kōviti – 19 ‘o ngāue’aki ‘a hono fakakalasi ko ia ‘o e ‘ulungaanga pe tō’onga mo’ui ‘a e vailasi.
” ‘Oku te’eki ke mau fakamavahevahe’i kinautolu ‘i he taimi ni. ‘Oku malava pe eni ke mau fakakalasi lelei kinautolu pea ‘oku mau lolotonga sivi’i ia ‘i he taimi ni.
‘Oku ‘uhinga ‘eni, ko ha taha, ha fa’ahinga taha pē ‘oku ngalingali ke ke ‘asi mei ai ‘a e ngaahi faka’ilonga, pea kapau ‘e sivi’i kinautolu ‘oku nau puke pea kuo pau ke mau fakahoko ‘a hono sivi’i pē ‘i heni, fakalotofonua pē, ke ‘ilo ‘a e fa’ahinga kalasi vailasi ko ia.”
Pehē ‘e he ‘ōfisa ‘oku ‘ikai toe fiema’u ‘e Fisi ia he taimi ni ha toe sivi ke fqkamo’oni’i pe ‘oku hao, he ‘oku ‘amanaki ‘a e kau ma’u mafai ‘e fai ‘e he fakangatangata ‘o e fe’alu’aki ‘a e ngaahi fonua ha konga ‘e taha ‘o e malu’i.
” ‘I he ‘uhinga ko ia ‘oku ‘ikai fai ha’amau fepuna’aki hangatonu mo Siaina pea ‘oku mau ‘ilo ‘oku tu’utu’uni ‘e he ngaahi fonua ha sivi kimu’a pea nau toki tū’uta ange ki honau fonua.
‘Oku ‘uhinga leva ia ‘oku sivi’i kinautolu ia kimu’a pea nau toki a’u mai ki Fisi. Ko e malu’i ia pe sivi’anga ma’a kimautolu. Ka ‘oku ‘ikai ke toe tu’utu’unia ‘e Fisi ia ha sivi ke fakapapau’i pe ‘oku hao.”
Lolotongako ‘eni ‘o e ‘ikai ha fepuna’aki hangatonu mei Siaina ki Fisi, ‘e malava ke ha’u e kau folau ‘eve’eva ia ‘o fou mai ‘i ‘Aositelēlia, Nu’usila, Singapoa, Hongi Kongo mo Los Angeles.
‘Oku ‘atā kakato ‘a e kau’āfonua ia ‘o Fiji ki he kau folau ‘eve’eva kuo nau ‘osi huhu malu’i kakato.

PTOA factions agree to recognise one official candidate for Tongatapu 8 by-election

By
Kalino Latu and Philip Cass
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The PTOA Party has announced its only candidate for next week’s by-election for an MP for Tongatapu 8.

PTOA Party Candidate Sōsefo Ngavisi Hehea

The by-election on Thursday January 19 was officially announced to elect a replacement for late MP Semisi Fakahau.

The sole PTOA candidate is Sosefo Ngavisi  Hehea.

All PTOA factions have agreed to acknowledge Hehea as the party’s only official candidate.

The party has repeatedly warned its members and supporters to learn from the big mistake it made in the 2021 general election when its leaders’ dispute split its supporters, causing them to form two competing PTOA factions.

One group, the PTOA People’s Board, was led by Siaosi Pōhiva while the rival PTOA Core Team was headed by Sēmisi Sika.

The factions chose rival candidates to compete in almost all of the 17 constituencies. The result was devastating for the Democrats. They lost almost all their sitting MPs. Most of the PTOA’s  senior MPs and leaders were defeated by new and independent candidates.

The collapse of the PTOA’s fortunes can be traced to the death of Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva, who had been the party’s driving force for many years.

In April 2020 party member Dr Tui Uata told Radio New Zealand the spirit of unity in the Democratic party disappeared when Hon. Pohiva died.

At the time Dr Uata blamed the late Prime Minister’s son-in-law, Mateni Tapueluelu, for causing the fracture in the party’s ranks.

Dr Uata claimed Mr Tapueluelu was pushing for the Deputy Prime Minister’s position before Mr Pohiva’s death and this upset party deputy Pohiva Tu’i’onetoa, who then joined forces with the Nobles to win the premiership.

This forced the remains of the PTOA out of power.

In the wake of the election, Kaniva News made this comment on the PTOA’s disastrous showing:

“The democrats should have won if they had been united and settled their differences.

Dissatisfaction at the government’s flagrant mishandling of the road projects, their tour of the islands to supposedly pray Covid-19 away while receiving gifts and feasting and the Prime Minister’s prolonged refusal to act against convicted Cabinet Minister ‘Akosita Lavulavu all grated with the voters.

The sobering reality is that the government did not so much win this election as the PTOA lost it.

All PTOA supporters can hope for at this stage is that the leaders of the two party factions learn this bitter lesson well: If they are ever to regain power they must reconcile with each other and rediscover the late ‘Akilisi Pohiva’s vision for a truly democratic Tonga.”

For more information

A sobering reality hits Democrats after election losses; voters elect nine new faces

A sobering reality hits Democrats after election losses; voters elect nine new faces

Former Governor of Vava‘u will face court over repayment in fraud case in January 2024

By
Philip Cass
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The latest act in a long running fraud case involving former Governor of Vava’u, Lord Fulivai and his wife Helen, will take place in the Auckland District Court January next year.

Lord Fulivai and his wife Lady Helen Fulivai

It is understood the case has  been delayed  by the backlog of cases due to Covid-19 in the New Zealand court system.

A 10 day trial has been set down for January 15, 2024.

Lord and Lady Fulivai have been involved in a long running dispute with Auckland businessman Christopher Barrett.

As Kaniva News reported earlier, in October 2021, the High Court in Auckland ordered that the Fulivais repay Barrett $253,370.60, the equivalent of $TP407,777.

The couple were also served with an affadavit showing that the Tongan Supreme Court had allowed the New Zealand judgement to be registered in the central registry of the Supreme Court under the terms of a reciprocal enforcement of judgements order.

Justice Venning ruled in the New Zealand High Court that the Fulivais must repay the money together with interest dating back to January 1, 2018; repayment of loans with interests and costs for the entire proceedings.

Barrett told the court that  the then Governor assured him he could organize a 99-year lease of land on Pangaimotu island in Vava’u for $170,000.

Barrett said he did not receive any lease and the defendants were therefore in breach of the agreement.

Barrett said Lord Fulivai made various promises to grant leases of other pieces of land in Vava’u.

“I was duped,” he said.

“I received a series of requests from both defendants seeking loans from me over the following years. Unfortunately, I naively trusted them and made loans to them as requested from time to time.”

These were not repaid.

New Zealand Police investigated claims against the Fulivais and charged them with obtaining money by deception.

A statement lodged with the court by Barrett’s legal representative said Lord Fulivai had admitted responsibility to repay the $170,000 and $21,500 in loans. The Fulivais had agreed to take no further action in the proceedings last October.

Documents showed that Lord Fulivai used the King’s name and that of the Prime Minister and Health Minister Saia Piukala in his dealings with Barratt.

Barrett has also pursued Lord Fulivai and his Seattle-based cousin Micheal Thomson for $550,000 for work on a yellow fin tuna project.

The Fulivais will be defended in their 2024 trial by controversial lawyer Kahungunu Barron-Afeaki, who has  been declared bankrupt twice.

Barron-Afeaki has provided advice to the King of Tonga, its government and royal commissions of inquiry.

He has also acted in several prominent cases in New Zealand, including as counsel for former Maori Television chief executive John Davy, who was fired from the network and later jailed for fraud.

For more information

Lord and Lady Fulivai served with demand for payment of $253,000 to Auckland businessman after court rulings in Tonga and New Zealand

Lord and Lady Fulivai served with demand for payment of $253,000 to Auckland businessman after court rulings in Tonga and New Zealand

Lord Fulivai used King’s name, cited PM, Cabinet and Health Minister in correspondence over fraudulent land deal with NZ businessman

Lord Fulivai used King’s name, cited PM, Cabinet and Health Minister in correspondence over fraudulent land deal with NZ businessman

Inland Revenue claims Tongan King’s lawyer owes $245k, High Court declares him bankrupt

Tonga new university is set to open next week January 20

By
Kaniva Staff
-

Tonga’s first and new national university is set to open its doors to post-secondary students in the kingdom on Friday next week.

Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku. Photo/Screenshot (Radio FM87.5)

Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku said the university will start by delivering new five bachelor programmes including Bachelor of Education (primary and secondary), Bachelor of Computer Science, Bachelor of Tourism and Bachelor of Agriculture.

As Kaniva News reported previously, the university is expected to unite various existing institutes including the Tonga Institute of Education, Tonga Institute of Higher Education, Tonga Institute of Science and Technology, Tonga Maritime Polytech Institute, Queen Salote Institute of Nursing and Allied Health, as well as the Tonga Police College.

An open day on January 27 will allow students to visit the campus at Pahu and explore their study options, catch a sample lecture, and talk to staff.

READ MORE:

It will offer academic, technical, and vocational programmes and qualifications from certificate to post-doctorate level.

Tonga is a member of Fiji-based University of the South Pacific (USP), a public research university with locations spread throughout a dozen countries in Oceania.

USP is an international centre for teaching and research on Pacific culture and environment, with almost 30,000 students in 2017.

It has campus on the main island of Tongatapu and sister centres  on Tonga’s Ha’apai and Vava’u islands.

The first university to have been established in Tonga was ‘Atenisi University, a private institute which was founded by late Professor Futa Helu in 1975.

Diabetes NZ wants Pharmac to fund ‘life-changing’ monitors for diabetics

By
Kaniva Staff
-

By rnz.co.nz and is republished with permission.

Diabetes NZ wants Pharmac to fund ‘life-changing’ monitors for diabetics

A continuous glucose monitor lets users test their blood sugar with a scanner or phone.

A new type of glucose monitoring system with an alarm is being released today (file picture). Photo: 123rf

Diabetes NZ wants Pharmac to fund a “life-changing” device that can measure diabetics’ blood sugar levels instantly.

New Zealanders living with diabetes can now measure their blood sugar levels instantly through a new continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) system, which launched on Tuesday.

The FreeStyle Libre 2 is a small wearable sensor that attaches to the back of the wearer’s arm and shares glucose data to a smartphone app.

Previously, people living with diabetes were required to prick their fingers and draw blood many times a day to monitor their glucose levels.

“It’s really a no-brainer that it should be funded” – Heather Verry

Diabetes New Zealand chief executive Heather Verry said the technology has been around for a while, but the new sensor has the added benefit of having alarms.

The sensor gives information to the smartphone or meter, she said.

“It now sets off alarms to highlight to people that their blood glucose levels are trending high or low, so that’s a really huge addition to this technology.”

The technology was life-changing for those with diabetes, she said.

“Quite apart from the fact that they don’t have to prick their fingers every few hours, which is something. It also gives people the opportunity to better manage their diabetes, less days off work, less hospitalisation.”

It could also help prevent the onset of diabetes complications such as renal failure, blindness or lower limb amputations.

The new alarm would help the whole family, Verry said. Until now parents have had to wake their diabetic children at night to ensure their blood levels were regular which meant neither the parents nor the child had a good night’s sleep, she said.

“When you’re living with that seven days a week and there’s no break from it – you can’t go on holiday from diabetes, it’s there with you.”

The system was publicly funded in Australia and the UK, but unfortunately the new system was not funded by Pharmac, she said.

“It’s a real issue for us because it’s an equity one and only those that can afford it will be able to take advantage of such wonderful technology – and at $50 a week it’s a huge cost.”

They had been petitioning for better access to continuous glucose monitors, she said.

“We know that it’s sort of gone through loops that it needs to go through in Pharmac and it’s just sitting there waiting for the budget.”

Considering the costs of hospitalisations and diabetes complications, funding the device was “really a no-brainer”, Verry said.

Pharmac was approached for comment, but didn’t immediately respond.

Item discovered in search for missing Tongan fisherman in NZ

By
Kaniva Staff
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Members of the public living as far north as Lake Ellesmere, also known as Te Waihora are asked to report sighting a grey or blue tarpaulin, blue shorts, and a green plastic dinghy.

Lionati Fotofili

This comes after a blue and white T-shirt was found during the search for a missing Tongan pastor who went missing at a South Canterbury river mouth on December 30.

Lionati Fotofili was reported missing at the mouth of the Ōpihi River after he did not return home from a fishing trip the night before.

The family of the 44-year-old father of two are launching their own intensive search party, about more than a week after he was last seen. 

“We are continuing with our own search hoping & praying for his safe return”, a spokesperson for the family wrote on Facebook on January 6.

It is understood search efforts involving police, the New Zealand Air Force, coastguard and surf lifesaving has so far failed to find Fotofili, who was also known by the name Lio.

The family and friends’ own searches were announced after it appeared the official search for Fotofili had not resumed.

Fotofili’s community gathered to support his family in their search for him by holding prayer services, sharing tributes online and meeting at beaches.

 “Prayer is powerful and we know that. We love you Lio. We are all praying from first light until the sun goes down and this will have a good outcome I can feel it in my heart”, a post on Facebook read in Tongan.

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

By
Kaniva Staff
-

‘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.

Omicron.
Omicron. (Source: Getty)

“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. 

Driver in custody after Tongan grandfather, child killed in US crash

By
Kaniva Staff
-

A Tongan community in the US are in mourning after a crash in Arizona’s Chandler killed a Tongan man and his grandson.

Vaka To’oa Snr and Vaka ‘Isitolo To’oa Jnr killed in a crash in Arizona. Photo/Supplied.

Gage Kauffman was driving northbound on Dobson Road on December 20 at a high rate of speed, reported the ABC15.

Vaka To’oa Snr was driving another vehicle that was entering Dobson Road at Shawnee Drive. Kauffman’s vehicle crashed into Vaka’s vehicle.

Vaka To’oa Snr of Houma, Tongatapu, Tonga but was residing in Arizona was reportedly ejected from the vehicle and died on December 30.

His grandson Vaka ‘Isitolo To’oa Jnr, a four-year-old boy, was also killed from injuries suffered in the crash.

The ABC15 report quoted a court document which said that Kauffman was driving over 100 miles per hour in a 45-mile-per-hour zone moments before the deadly crash

He faces two counts of reckless manslaughter, two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and two counts of endangerment.

The family of the victims have announced that the deceased will be laid to rest this Friday 13 US time.

One of Vaka To’oa Snr’s children and parent of the child posted a heartfelt message on Facebook after the deadly crash.

“My son Vaka Isitolo Tooa Jr & my dad Vaka Tooa Sr, were involved in a really bad car accident”, the post read.

“The vehicle that hit them was speeding so fast, they hit my dad’s car & all passengers in both vehicles were injured in some way or form”.

“God gives & He takes. He is loving & merciful. My dad always taught us His word & truth will always carry us thru whatever was holding us up or weighing us down. My sister Fa said it best, May He lead us this year”.

Global experts react cautiously to new Covid variant that makes up 40% of US cases

By
Philip Cass
-

‘Oku taupotu ‘i lalo ha fakamatala fakaTonga

There was no evidence a new variant of Covid-19 causes more severe illness according to a University of Otago expert.

The XBB1.5 variant now accounts for about 40% of cases in the US, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Symptoms with XBB.1.5 are the same as with earlier variants and can range from almost nothing to shortness of breath and low oxygen levels that require emergency medical attention.

Professor Peter McIntyre from the University of Otago said XBB.1.5 appeared to be similar to other variants of Omicron, RNZ reported.

He said it may be more likely to cause infection, including in people who had been vaccinated or infected before.

The existence of a new variant was not important in itself.  What mattered was if there was any evidence that it caused not just breakthrough infection, but that it resulted in severe illness, he said.

In New  Zealand the number of reported case numbers has fallen, as has the number of people hospitalised.

Globally, other experts have cautioned against over-reacting to the new variant.

In the United States an official from the CDC official said there was no indication it caused more severe illness than other Omicron variants.

Dr Barbara Mahon, director of CDC’s Coronavirus Division, told the American NBC network that while the number of people in hospital in the US with Covid was rising, areas with high levels of the new variant, such as the northeast, did not have a disproportionate increase in hospitalisations.

The number of people hospitalised at this time was well below last year’s Omicron surge.

The XBB.1.5 variant has been detected in the UK and is thought to account for about four percent of Covid viruses being sequenced.

Professor of clinical microbiology at Cambridge University, Ravi Gupta, told the Guardian  he thought the new variant might drive an increase in cases, but he not necessarily an explosive wave of infections in the UK.

“I don’t think there’s any cause to panic. The main thing we worry about is the severity of the disease, and there is no evidence that it’s more severe. People should, however, make sure they are up-to-date with their vaccines,” Professor Gupta said.

In Canada, Dr Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organisation at the University of Saskatchewan, said she did not expect to see big changes in terms of disease severity, since infections would happen in a population where people had been vaccinated and infected with the Omicron variant.

However, while experts have been careful not to over-react to the emergence of a new variant, they have all urged people to make precautions against the virus, making sure their immunisation and boosters are up to date  and taking other precautions, such as mask wearing, as necessary.

Fakamatala fakaTonga

Ko e talanoa ‘eni ki he fōtunga kehe fo’ou XBB1.5 ‘o e Koviti  ‘a ia ko e pēseti ia ‘e 40 ‘o e ngaahi keisi ‘i US, fakatatau ki ha teita mei he Senita ki he Disease Control and Prevention.

Ko e ngaahi faka’ilonga ‘o e XBB.1.5 ‘oku tatau pe mo e ngaahi fotunga kehe ki mu’a ange’ pea ‘oku lava ke ‘alu mei he ikai ha me’a ‘e hoko ki he nounou ‘a e mānava mo e tō lalo ‘a e levolo ‘o e ‘osikena ‘a ia ‘e fiema’u ai ha tokoni fakafale mahaki.

Kuo pehe ‘e Palōfesa Peter McIntyre mei he ‘Univesiti ‘o Otago ‘oku ngali tatau ‘a e XBB.1.5 mo e ngaahi fōtunga kehe ‘o e ‘Omikoloni’. Na’a’ ne pehē ‘e malava pe ke ne fakatupu ha puke, pea ‘e malava ke toe puke pe ai ‘a e kakai ne ‘osi huhu malu’i pe pihia ki mu’a’.

‘I Nu’u Sila’, kuo holo ‘a e tokolahi ‘o e ngaahi keisi na’e lipōti’ tatau pe mo e fika ‘o kinautolu ne tākoto fale mahaki’. Fakamāmani lahi’, oku tokanga ‘a e kau mataotao kehe’ ki he fu’u hoha’a ki he fōtunga kehe fo’ou’. ‘I ‘Amelika’, na’e pehē ‘e ha ‘ofisiale mei he CDC na’e ‘ikai ha faka’ilonga te ne fakatupu ha puke lahi laka ange he ngaahi fōtunga kehe ‘o e ‘Omikoloni’.

Ne pehē ‘e Dr Barbara Maho, ko e talēkita ‘o e CDC’s Coronovirus Division ‘i ha’ane lau ki he American BNC ko e lolotonga na’e mahiki ‘a e tokolahi ‘o kinautolu ma’u ‘e he Koviti’ ne ‘i fale mahaki ‘i ‘Amelika’ na’e ‘ikai ta’e hohoatatau ‘a e fakalalahi ‘a e tākoto fale mahaki ia ‘i ngaahi feitu’u hangē ‘i he Tokelau hahake’.

Ko e tokolahi ‘o e kakai kuo ‘i fale mahaki ‘i he taimi peheni ‘o e ta’u kuo ‘osi he ‘oho ‘a e ‘Omikoloni’, ‘oku fu’u si’isi’i ‘aupito ia.

Ko e fōtunga fo’ou ko ‘eni XBB.1.5 kuo ‘asi ia ‘i UK pea ‘oku ‘i ai ‘a e tui ko e pēseti ia ‘e fā ‘o e vailasi Koviti kotoa kuo lava ke fakahokohoko’.

Pehē ‘e Palōfesa Ravi Gupta mei he ‘Uivēsiti ‘o Cambridge ki he Guardian na’a ne fakakaukau ‘e ala fakalahia ‘e he fōtunga fo’ou’ ha tupulaki ‘i he ngaahi keisi’, ka e ‘ikai ko ha fu’u tupu fēfē ia ‘i UK.  Me’a tatau pe ‘i Kanata fakatatau kia Dr Angela Rasmussen ko e vilolosisi he univesiti ‘o Saskatchewan, ‘a ia na’a ne pehe ‘e ‘ikai ha ‘amanaki ki ha toe mapuna ‘a e mahaki ‘i he ngaahi feitu’u ne ‘osi huhu malu’i mo puke ai ‘a e kakai he ‘Omikoloni’.

Neongo ia ne fale’i ‘e he kau mataotao’ ki he kakai ke ‘oua ‘e fu’u tokanga tōtu’a ki he ‘asi ‘a e fōtunga fo’ou, kuo nau fakalotolahi’i ‘a e kakai ke nau tokateu ‘o fakafepaki’i ‘a e vailasi ‘aki ‘a e fakapapau’i ‘oku muiaki fakakakato ‘a honau huhu malu’i mo e hoani’ mo e ngaahi malu’i kehe hangē ko e masaki’.

Authorities treating church minister’s car fire in Vava‘u as arson

By
Kaniva Staff
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Authorities in Vava’u are treating a blaze in a car in Holonga village as arson.

Photo/ Vava Lapota

The vehicle was allegedly set on fire during the early hours of Sunday January 1.

Neiafu Town officer Vava Lapota said the incident happened at around 3am while the car was left unattended on a road from Holonga to Ta’anea.

The car belongs to a Pentecost Church pastor. It broke down before the pastor and his family sought help from a nearby village, Lapota said.

When they arrived back at the scene with a helper the car had been torched and destroyed.

Photos of the burnt-out vehicle showed the car received an extensive damage and what appeared to be its windows had been smashed.

It is understood Police were seeking a person of interest.

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