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The advance of the Omicron variant today, December 1: WHO fears that vaccines will be less effective against the strain

The anticovid vaccines They could be less effective in the face of the new omicron variant in preventing infection and the development of symptomatic Covid-19, although they seem to maintain their effectiveness against serious forms of the disease, the World Health Organization warned today (who).

In its weekly epidemiological report, the United Nations, that has received notifications of cases of the new variant from a score of countries, acknowledges that some mutations of omicron “could increase its transmission capacity and / or allow some degree of escape to the immunity“.

It clarifies, however, that for now the evidence is limited, given the small number of cases: of the 800 thousand analysis made by the global network of laboratories GISAID in the last 60 days, 99.8% are still cases of the delta variant, that was imposed on the previous ones, and only 14 (0.001%) belong to the omicron.

WHO maintains that the global risk posed by the new variant is “very high”

In any case, given the possibility that it is more contagious and resistant to vaccines, the who maintains that the overall risk posed by the new variant is “very high.” Given this, the organization reiterates in the report epidemiological his call to accelerate vaccination global especially in risk groups not yet immunized.

It also asks for more data from laboratories sequencing cases of the new variant to better understand its scope and characteristics, and the public recommends that they maintain the measures sanitary habitual, including the use of masks or the distancing physical as much as possible.

The variant omicron was first reported on November 24 in South Africa, although the first laboratory-confirmed cases, also in that country, were identified in specimens collected on November 9.

Ireland detects the first contagion with the omicron variant

The health authorities of Ireland confirmed this Wednesday that they have detected the first contagion with the omicron variant of the coronavirus in this country. The National Virology Laboratory in Dublin explained today that this positive by Covid-19 is linked to a trip originating from one of the destinations considered risk.

The laboratory added that 14 samples have been analyzed with genomic sequencing to determine if the origin of the infection is in the omicron variant, although only one has been positive.

In response to the appearance of omicron, considered more contagious, all travelers arriving at Ireland as of this Friday they must present a test of Covid-19 negative, either a PCR or antigen test.

Norway detects the first two cases of the variant

The authorities norwegian confirmed this Wednesday the first cases of the omicron variant of the coronavirus, two travelers from South Africa. The variant was detected in two people residing in the municipality of Øygarden, in the west of this Scandinavian country, who remain isolated, while their close contacts have been put into quarantine.

Norway thus joins other Nordic countries such as Denmark and Sweden, who had detected their first cases of omicron a few days ago. The Norwegian Government announced last Friday that all travelers from South Africa and seven other countries in the area must remain in quarantine upon arriving in the country.

The new variant has led several countries to suspend flights to southern Africa or establish specific restrictions, due to the high number of mutations that it presents, what it has done that has been qualified by the World Health Organization as a variant of risk.

KEEP READING:

Ómicron: What are the symptoms of the new variant of the coronavirus and how dangerous is it?

Ómicron, up to 500 times more contagious than the original COVID-19 virus

Ómicron: what you should know about the third dose of the Covid-19 vaccine

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