Omicron: What you should know about the new Covid variant

Dr. Francisco Moreno, internist and infectologist at the ABC Medical Center.He graduated from the University of Texas in San Antonio.Chief of Internal Medicine of the ABC Hospital.IAS member (International Aids Society).ABC OBSERVATORY HOSPITAL // Tel: 55 2614 4681 // TW: @drpacomoreno1

What do we know?

• It was first identified on November 24 in South Africa, but there are already cases in the Netherlands, Czech Republic, Italy, Belgium, Canada, Botsuana, China, Portugal, Denmark, Brazil, India, Australia, Germany, Israel, Hong Kongand the United Kingdom and according to scientists it is very likely that they are in many more countries.

• It is concerned that, for being so different from the original version identified for the first time in Wuhan, China, whether more contagious, lethal or burle the effect of vaccines and treatments.

1. It is the most mutated variant to date:

• There is no doubt: what most alarm to health authorities is the high number of omicron mutations.

• The World Health Organization (WHO) defined it as a "variant of concern".

• To it belong the variants of the virus that are transmitted more easily, which are more virulent or decrease the effectiveness of protection measures or vaccines and treatments available.

• In total it has more than 50 mutations, more than the Delta, which today dominates in the world.

• Most of the omicron mutations are found in the spike protein and the junction of the receiver, two areas involved in how the pathogen enters and adheres to our cells.

2. It is more widespread than was thought:

• The variant was first detected in South Africa, which does not imply that it arose there.

• Several countries have imposed severe restrictions on this country and others in southern Africa.

• But despite these restrictions, cases have already been recorded in several of the countries that had canceled flights or imposed new passenger control measures from this area.

3. The need for high vaccination rates:

• Scientists have noticed it from the beginning: we will not dominate the virus if the whole world does not go alongside the race for vaccination.

• There is a lot of inequality regarding immunization rates and African countries are in line, far from countries with more resources.

• According to Our World in Data, only 10% of the total population of Africa has received at least one dose.

• In Europe, the United States and Canada, even in Latin America, this percentage exceeds 60%.

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• To talk about reasonable levels of immunity, experts point out, more than 80% of the world's population must receive the complete pattern.

• Vaccines have proven to protect not only against the most serious pictures of the disease, but also to have an important impact on slowing down the pathogen.

• A large population without vaccinating, as happens in most African countries, is a breeding ground for the virus to circulate without control, mute and appear variants as an omicron.

So what are the 3 main unknowns?

1. Is this variant the most dangerous of all?

• WHO warned Monday that the risk posed by omicron could be "very high."

• To know if it is more dangerous, the preliminary analysis of the organism should be ratified, which suggest that it entails a greater risk of reinfection and transmission.

• But this does not imply that it is more dangerous.To check it, it will be necessary that more people inevitably become infected and follow their evolution.

2. Will vaccines already exist?

• With advanced vaccinations in several countries and with many others still pending to catch up, it is one of the most worrying unknowns.

• And there are only two scenarios, which are not effective and need a new vaccine or that is enough to reinforce vaccines and apply them as a booster.

3. Will the dominant variant become?

• All variants compete for being dominant.It is the natural behavior of viruses.

• And to dominate, experts agree that the virus must be very effective when transmitted.

• The two weeks that follow will be crucial to know what course this new variant could take.

• So far, the two variants that have been more efficient in this race have been Alpha and Delta.

• If omicron will end up dominating the panorama or not, we will have to wait to see it.As well as to know whether or not it will be mild.

Latin America countries with travel restrictions:

• Chili

• Ecuador

• Argentina

• Paraguay

• Guatemala

• Cuba

• Brazil

• Colombia