The rising number of cases is raising concern around the world given the number of mutations that may help it spread or even avoid antibodies from prior infection or vaccination.
Preliminary indications point to the fact that this variant, which belongs to the lineage called B.1.1.529, is probably more transmitted than the highly infectious delta variant, and that current vaccines may be less effective against it.
News of the variant prompted countries to announce new travel restrictions on Friday and send drug manufacturers to see if their COVID-19 vaccines are protective.
Several countries rushed to ban flights from South Africa and some other countries on Friday to slow the spread of Omicron, while stock markets and oil prices fell on fears around the variant, potentially causing global economic growth. There was a huge setback for reform.
South Africa’s National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) has ruled out any “unusual symptoms”, considering cases reported after infection with version b.1.1.1.529. However, they have highlighted the fact that, with other infectious forms such as delta, some individuals are asymptomatic.
Why are scientists worried?
The World Health Organization on Friday classified the B.1.1.1.529 variant, or Omicron, as the SARS-CoV-2 “type of concern”, saying it can spread more quickly than other forms of the coronavirus.
Graham Snyder, medical director of infection prevention and hospital epidemiology at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, said the delta variant is dominant worldwide, accounting for 99.9% of U.S. cases, and it’s not yet clear which Omicron delta can cause. Will be able to migrate or not. ,
But the new version has more than 30 mutations in the part of the virus that current vaccines target. It is also suspected of driving a spike in new infections in South Africa.
Dr David Ho, a professor of microbiology and immunology at Columbia University, said mutations to Omicron are likely to render some COVID-19 treatments – including some manufactured antibodies – ineffective.
Experimental antiviral pills — such as Pfizer Inc.’s paxlovid and Merck & Co. Inc.’s molnupiravir — target parts of the virus that are not converted to oomicrons, and these drugs may be even more important if vaccine-induced and natural immunity is threatened.
what we don’t know
Scientists say it may take weeks to define the type of disease it causes, determine how contagious it is and identify how far it has spread.
Some note that other variants of the concern, including beta, which was also first detected in South Africa, were eventually replaced by delta.
But the biggest question is whether protection from COVID-19 vaccines – about 8 billion doses administered globally – will last. And, will people previously infected with the coronavirus be immune to Omicron’s infection?
Experts also do not know whether Omicron will cause more or less severe COVID-19 than other coronavirus strains.
What would be the best response?
The scientists said Omicron has not yet been identified in the United States, but it is likely already here.
Even without the new version, US COVID-19 rates have increased in recent weeks, mainly in northern states, as people move indoors to escape the winter season.
Some countries have moved to limit travel from southern Africa. Snyder of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center said that beyond government restrictions, individuals should still assess their vulnerability to COVID and tolerance to risk as they make travel decisions for winter vacations.
He and others said vaccinations should remain a priority, despite questions about effectiveness against Omicron, because it is likely that they may still remain somewhat protective. Everyone should also continue to wear masks, avoid overcrowding, ventilate rooms and wash hands.
All expert bodies have emphasized that vaccination is important, especially to protect groups at high risk of hospitalization and death. Real-time data has shown that high vaccination rates also significantly reduce the pressure on health systems.
“We have all the tools that will work against any type,” said Dr. Eric Topol, director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute in La Jolla, Calif.
What is the directive given by WHO?
According to a statement issued by WHO, countries have been asked to do the following:
• Increase surveillance and sequencing efforts to better understand circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants.
• Submit the whole genome sequence and associated metadata to publicly available databases such as GISAID.
• Report initial cases/clusters associated with VOC infection to WHO through the IHR mechanism.
• Field investigations to improve understanding of the potential effects of VOCs on the immune response, diagnostic methods, where capacity exists and in coordination with the international community, of the COVID-19 epidemiology, severity, effectiveness of public health and social measures and conducting laboratory evaluations. Antibody neutralization, or other relevant features.
More investigations are underway for the “Africa Center for Disease” to investigate the potential effect of these mutations on the ability of the virus to transmit more efficiently, affect the effectiveness of the vaccine and avoid an immune response, and/ or cause more serious or minor illness. Control (CDC).
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