WHO labels newly identified Covid strain as Omicron, says it’s a variant of concern
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Nurse prepares Pfizer BioNTech Covid-19 vaccines for children to be distributed in Montreal (Quebec) on November 24, 2021.
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Friday was a day when the World Health Organization assigned Omicron, a Greek letter from Greece to South Africa.
The strain, which was previously called “Strain A”, has been recognized by the U.N. Health Agency. lineage B.1.1.529As a type of concern.
Experts in health are deeply concernedThe Omicron variant is susceptible to transmission due to its unique constellation of mutations. It also has a profile different than other concerns.
It is feared a sharp upswing of Covid cases in South Africa’s Gauteng province — where the heavily mutated strain of the virus was first identified — could mean it has greater potential to escape prior immunity than other variants.
A new type of concern has been identified and health officials have raised alarm. sent global markets into a tailspin on Friday. On the news, oil prices fell and stocks that deal in travel and leisure suffered heavy losses.
WHO says it is likely that the variant will have a significant impact on diagnostics, therapies, and vaccines.
How much do we know?
Tulio De Oliveira, a South African scientist, stated at Thursday’s media briefing that Omicron contains approximately 50 mutations. However, more than 30 are located in the spike protein. This is the area of the protein which interacts with cells before they enter the cell.
The receptor binding domain is where the virus makes first contact with the cells. There are now 10 mutations. That’s almost double the number of the mutants for the delta Covid strain, which was the most dominant worldwide earlier in the year.
It is most likely that the mutation was caused by a single person who failed to clear the virus. The virus then has the potential to genetically develop. This same hypothesis was used for the Alpha Covid variant.
South Africa has been home to around 100 Omicron variant genes, most of which are located in Gauteng. It has been found in Israel, Botswana, and Hong Kong.
Many of the Omicron mutations are related to an increase in antibody resistance. This could reduce vaccine effectiveness and impact how the virus acts in regards to transmission, inoculation, treatment, and treatments. health officials have said.
Frankfurt Airport: Passengers waited
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“There are two approaches to what happens next: wait for more scientific evidence — or act now and row back later if it wasn’t required,” said Sharon Peacock, professor of public health and microbiology at the University of Cambridge.
It is more important to be hardworking, early in the morning, and fast, then to go wrong. This is less stressful than being academic and thinking that evidence must accumulate before any action can be taken. The rapid spread of super-spreaders in South Africa may be caused by other factors or events. But there are sufficient red flags to assume the worst rather than hope for the best — and take a precautionary approach,” Peacock said.
The European Union and the U.K. are just a few of the nations to consider. movedTo impose travel restrictions upon southern African countries.
WHO warns against imposing travel restrictions on a country without due process. Instead, countries need to adopt a scientific risk-based approach.
South Africa’s foreign minister stated Friday that Britain’s decision not to take preventive measures was “hurried” and the WHO has yet to provide guidance on next steps.
— CNBC’s Elliot Smith contributed to this report.
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