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For weeks, research groups and health institutions have been working to find out if the Omicron variant is more dangerous than the other coronavirus variants that have appeared before, and if the vaccines that are currently available are capable of protecting against the new mutation.
The analyzes continue to be elaborated and these days some preliminary studies have been circulated that need to be verified, where some of them are sedatives and some others less.
When and where Omicron appeared
The first known case of the Omicron variant was reported by South African health authorities to the World Health Organization (WHO) on November 24, after genetic analysis of a sample taken from a person who tested positive for coronavirus on November 9.
The Netherlands then reported that they had identified this variant in some of the samples analyzed, on 19 and 23 November, slightly earlier than the South African report. This detail showed that Omicron had probably been circulating in Europe for several weeks and as was later confirmed by analyzes carried out in several other countries.
For two weeks, cases of the Omicron variant were identified in about sixty countries. In 20 cases they were found to be infected a second time with Covid-19. In the UK, one of the countries with the highest infectivity, over 334 cases of Omicron have been infected so far.
Mutations
Concerns about the Omicron variant are mainly related to the high number of mutations it contains, compared to the other coronavirus variants that have emerged so far.
What you need to know about coronavirus
Research teams have identified at least 50 important mutations, 30 of which are present in the “spike” protein, which is used by the coronavirus to avoid protecting cells and injecting its genetic material into them to make copies of new. It has a fairly high number of mutations, especially when compared to the Delta variant, which was dominant in most of the world during the summer season. Scientists think that the high number of mutations does not mean that Omicron will necessarily be more contagious or that it has a greater ability to bypass human immunity.
Do you want to see omicron spike mutations? Have a look at this beautiful image from @_wharvey now available on our dashboard https://t.co/x2zsrhKj8Y pic.twitter.com/qgGHv7xqSV
– COG-UK Mutation Explorer (@COGUK_ME) November 29, 2021
As shown, there is a possibility that this variant is more contagious than others, but such a thing must be verified in practice and through laboratory analysis, but also by field observations. Accurate analyzes in relation to this variant require time and a long period of observation, as it should be understood that even today about the Delta variant there is still no complete opinion about the degree of infectivity.
Given this uncertainty and the need to control the development of the situation, the WHO identified Omicron as a worrying option. Such a definition serves to stimulate the attention of the health authorities of different countries, as well as research groups that can verify its characteristics.
illness
Just as it is too early to say for sure whether the Omicron variant is more contagious than other versions of the coronavirus, it is too early to argue with conviction whether this variant causes more serious consequences in people infected with Covid-19.
The information coming from South Africa is still incomplete and moreover is based on only a few cases, which indicates that this variant carries mild symptoms. However, in areas with high infectivity were mainly affected young people, who, as observed in almost two years of the pandemic, show milder symptoms and consequently are less at risk of coronavirus.
Many of the Omicron cases were detected in individuals who had previously switched to Covid-19 and were therefore more immune to the virus.
vaccinations
The increase in infections is considered an important indicator of Omicron’s ability to escape the protection of the immune system, both when a person has previously passed the coronavirus and after he or she has completed vaccination. Some preliminary studies that have not yet been verified, but that have been performed on a small number of individuals have found that vaccines offer very little protection against the Omicron variant if the person has only received its first dose.
Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel said current vaccines may offer less protection against the new Omicron variant and that it will take several months to have a suitable vaccine for this variant. His comments have raised doubts, as it should be borne in mind that the results of the analyzes performed have not yet emerged to understand the potency of vaccines against the new variant.
The Pfizer-BioNTech companies have clarified that several laboratory tests performed so far, showed that their vaccine has the ability to fight the new Omicron variant after the second or third booster dose. However, the study was conducted on a few samples and needs to be addressed with reservations so far, as more complete and comprehensive data are to be expected.
Spreading
In just a few weeks Omicron has shown that it has spread rapidly and in several different countries from where it can be guessed that in the coming months it will be able to overcome the Delta variant, becoming the dominant variant. However, it will still take time to understand its infectious degree. Analyzes on the Omicron variant are ongoing and hundreds of research groups around the world have been involved in their implementation. Studies to date have shown that the new variant should not be underestimated and as the WHO reports, it is very important to prepare for any situation, but without causing panic.
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