The new variant of SARS-Cov-2, known popularly as’ Omicron‘, is causing a lot of concern among the scientific community and has sparked panic among the general population, but Why is this new strain causing so much alarm? This version has spread across Africa, but has also been found in Botswana, Belgium, Hong Kong, and Israel.
The World Health Organization (WHO) stated that preliminary evidence suggests an increased risk of reinfection with this variant, which could force nations into a new confinement, despite high vaccination rates, although many experts believe that it is still too early to be concerned.
Meanwhile, the United States announced that, as of Monday, November 29, the entry of foreign travelers from South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini (Swaziland), Mozambique and Malawi will be suspended, in addition to the United Kingdom as well Measures have been taken for those arriving from those territories.
Why is the ‘Omicron’ variant such a concern?
Scientists consider that Only time will tell if ‘Omicron’ will cause serious damage, but some inconclusive studies indicate that they will cause a “different impact” in the infected ones. In this regard, Tulio de Oliveira, director of the Center for Innovation and Response to Epidemics in South Africa, said that there is an “unusual constellation of mutations” and that it is “very different” from other variants, which is what sets off the alarms.
Oliveira specified that there were 50 mutations overall and more than 30 in the spike protein, which are the ones that most vaccines attack; however, he clarified that the fact that there are many mutations is not automatically something more harmful.
For his part, Professor Richard Lessells, from the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, said: “We are concerned that this virus may have improved transmissibility, an enhanced ability to spread from person to person, but could also bypass parts of the immune system. “But as mentioned above, only more studies will determine if ‘Omicron’ will be more lethal.
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