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The world is under the spell of the fourth wave of Covid. Now after Delta, the new variant Omikron has appeared and is spreading. The number of mutations is what makes them so worrying.
What is the name of the new Covid variant?
The variant was initially designated as B.1.1.529. But after the World Health Organization ruled on Friday that the mutation was “worrying” and because there are “preliminary indications of an increased risk of reinfection with this variant”, it was given a name and is now called Omikron, in the English spelling Omicron. These “worrying” variants are each assigned a Greek letter. The previously used designation according to the regions of the first appearance is considered stigmatizing.
When did the Omikron variant appear?
B.1.1.529 was detected on Tuesday. It is associated with the surge in the number of infections in the South African province of Gauteng. As a result, she quickly achieved international recognition. Experts call this variant the most worrying they have ever seen.
Where does it come from?
Even if the variant was classified for the first time in Gauteng, it turned out that the first sample was taken with it on November 11th in Botswana. Their special constellation of mutations suggests that they could have arisen for the first time when an immunocompromised person was infected, for example an untreated HIV / AIDS patient.
Why are scientists so concerned?
The variant has more than 30 mutations on the spike protein – more than twice as many as in Delta. It is with this protein that the virus enters the cells of our body, it is the key. So many changes to the virus’ burglar tool are fueling concerns that the virus will more easily infect people who are immune to the earlier variants.
How contagious is the virus?
A final answer is still pending. But the data from South Africa so far are worrying. The number of cases there has skyrocketed with the appearance of the new variant. Preliminary analysis suggests that the variant quickly evolved into the predominant strain. The R-value, which indicates how quickly an epidemic spreads, was estimated at 1.47 for South Africa, but at 1.93 in Gauteng. However, the number base is not solid.
Will Omikron Spread Worldwide?
That is to be feared. Most of the cases come from South Africa. But cases have now also been reported in Hong Kong, Israel and Belgium – the virus is likely to have reached other countries as well. In Germany: Hesse’s Minister of Social Affairs “has a very high probability” of the fact that the variant has also arrived in Germany.
Travel bans alone only inhibit the speed of spread. Only if they are combined with strict closures could they completely prevent the spread of a new variant.
How effective are the existing vaccines against Omikron?
The number of mutations on the spike protein doesn’t mean anything good. Some of them are said to be able to bypass immune protection. But so far this is only a theory, studies are lacking. The most likely possibility is that existing vaccines, while not ineffective, may offer less protection. This could lead to more frequent vaccination breakthroughs.
What about the medication if you’re already infected?
Recently approved antiviral drugs, such as the Merck pill, are likely to be just as effective against the new variant because they do not act on the spike protein, but rather prevent the virus from multiplying. Drugs that act on the parts of the virus that are now mutated could lose their effectiveness.
Do you get sick more seriously?
There is still no information on whether the variant leads to a change in Covid symptoms or the severity – this is currently being observed by South African scientists. Since there is a period of time between infection and more severe illness, it will take several weeks before clear data are available. Today there is no reason to believe that the newest variant will be worse or milder.
Do the vaccines need improvement?
The vaccines have been updated since the beta and delta variants appeared. This preparatory work could now be used, but it would take four to six months for updated vaccines to become available.
Source From: Stern
