On 26 November 2021, WHO designated the variant B.1.1.529 a variant of concern, named Omicron, on the advice of WHO’s Technical Advisory Group on Virus Evolution (TAG-VE). This decision was based on the evidence presented to the TAG-VE that Omicron has several mutations that may have an impact on how it behaves, for example, on how easily it spreads or the severity of illness it causes. Here is a summary of what is currently known.
The World Health Organization called Omi Keron a "variant of concern" and warned on Monday that despite many uncertainties, the global risk it poses is "very high." So far, related cases have been detected in 20 countries, including the United Kingdom, Italy, Belgium and the Netherlands. Although Omi Keron has not yet been discovered in the United States, experts say that the emergence of this variant is only a matter of time.
Current knowledge about Omicron
Researchers in South Africa and around the world are conducting studies to better understand many aspects of Omicron and will continue to share the findings of these studies as they become available.
Transmissibility:
It is not yet clear whether Omicron is more transmissible (e.g., more easily spread from person to person) compared to other variants, including Delta. The number of people testing positive has risen in areas of South Africa affected by this variant, but epidemiologic studies are underway to understand if it is because of Omicron or other factors.
Severity of disease:
It is not yet clear whether infection with Omicron causes more severe disease compared to infections with other variants, including Delta. Preliminary data suggests that there are increasing rates of hospitalization in South Africa, but this may be due to increasing overall numbers of people becoming infected, rather than a result of specific infection with Omicron. There is currently no information to suggest that symptoms associated with Omicron are different from those from other variants. Initial reported infections were among university students—younger individuals who tend to have more mild disease—but understanding the level of severity of the Omicron variant will take days to several weeks. All variants of COVID-19, including the Delta variant that is dominant worldwide, can cause severe disease or death, in particular for the most vulnerable people, and thus prevention is always key.
The mutant strain of the new coronavirus, first discovered in Botswana and South Africa, has attracted the attention of scientists and public health officials. Because of the large number of mutations of this mutant strain, it may make the virus more spread and not easily blocked by existing vaccines. .
Should we be worried?
The discovery of Omicron caused considerable panic around the world. Many countries banned flights from southern Africa, or, like Israel, Japan, and Morocco, completely banned the entry of foreign passengers.
However, public health experts urge everyone to proceed with caution, and point out that there is no conclusive evidence that Omicron is at a higher risk than the previous delta variant. In the United States and other countries, delta has quickly replaced the previous variant.
Although it turns out that Delta is more likely to spread than previous variants — and there is data that this variant causes heavier illness in people who have not been vaccinated — there is little evidence that it is more lethal or can avoid Over the vaccine.
We still know very little about Omicron, including whether it is more contagious and whether it can cause severe illness. There is evidence that this mutant strain increases the risk of re-infection in humans.
There are early signs that Omicron may only cause mild illness. However, this observation is mainly based on young patients in South Africa, who are generally unlikely to develop severe illnesses due to the new coronavirus.
The president of the South African Medical Association, Dr. Angelie Couche, said that the country’s hospitals are not overwhelmed by patients infected with the new variant, and most hospitalized patients are not fully vaccinated. In addition, most of the patients she met did not lose their sense of taste and smell, but only had a slight cough.
Recommended actions for people
The most effective steps individuals can take to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus is to keep a physical distance of at least 1 metre from others; wear a well-fitting mask; open windows to improve ventilation; avoid poorly ventilated or crowded spaces; keep hands clean; cough or sneeze into a bent elbow or tissue; and get vaccinated when it’s their turn.
In other words, due to the recent appearance of Omicron, it may take some time for experts to know whether it is more pathogenic. New cases of new coronary infections are often admitted to the hospital after two or two weeks.
Scientists hope to get more information in the coming weeks. At present, they have stated that they have no reason to believe that the existing vaccine is ineffective against Omicron, although there are facts that the protective effect of the vaccine may be reduced, and the extent is still unknown.
There is another reason for us to calm down: vaccine manufacturers express their confidence to adjust the existing vaccine formulations to make the vaccine more effective against new variants.
It is also reassuring: Omicron’s unique mutation makes it easy to identify quickly through nasal swabs and laboratory tests.
Why do scientists pay so much attention to Omicron?
As the new coronavirus replicates in the human body, new mutations continue to appear. Most mutations do not provide new advantages for the virus, but sometimes mutations can make it easier for the pathogen to spread in the human host or avoid the body's immune response, thereby helping the pathogen
Researchers in South Africa issued a warning because they found more than 30 mutations in the spike protein, which is a component of the surface of the mutant strain that allows it to bind to human cells and enter the human body. Some samples from Botswana shared about 50 previously undiscovered combinations of mutations.
The immune system produces antibodies to fight the new coronavirus infection. The primary target of these antibodies is the spike protein. So many mutations have raised concerns that Omicron’s spikes may somehow escape antibodies from previous infections or vaccination.
Variant strains reduce the efficacy of monoclonal antibody therapy, and these mutations also increase this possibility-Regeneron Pharmaceuticals' statement on Tuesday partially confirmed this concern.
In any case, the fate of the early mutants that attracted people’s attention is worth mentioning: for example, Beta mutants and Miu mutants have evolved part of the ability to escape immunity, but they have never posed a serious threat to the world, because the facts prove their spread. Very weak.
How did the vaccine perform?
Vaccines are expected to provide some protection against Omicron because they can not only stimulate antibodies, but also stimulate other immune cells to attack cells infected by the virus. Mutations in the spike protein will not weaken this response, and most experts believe that this response helps prevent severe illness and death.
Some health experts believe that immunity may decline six months or more after vaccination, so they are promoting vaccine boosters to increase antibody levels.
Fauci, the chief infectious disease expert in the United States, urges people to inject a booster shot, which he said is likely to provide additional protection against severe illness. “We’ve said it over and over again, and it’s worth repeating. If you have not been vaccinated, go for vaccinations, if you are vaccinated, go for booster shots and continue to use preventive methods, that is, wear masks, avoid crowds and poor ventilation. Space," he said on Tuesday.
Vaccine manufacturers Monard, Pfizer Biotech and Johnson & Johnson, which are approved for use in the United States, and AstraZeneca, which is widely used in Europe, said that they are studying Omicron and expressed confidence and ability to target this variant. Adjust the formula.
Why is it called Omicron?
When the WHO started naming the new variants of the new coronavirus, they chose the Greek letters-alpha, beta, gamma, delta, etc., for the convenience of description. The first "variant of concern" Alpha was discovered in the UK at the end of 2020, and Beta was discovered shortly thereafter in South Africa
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