Omicron: The latest Covid variant 'of concern' with high number of mutations
The World Health Organization announced
Friday it has designated the newly identified coronavirus variant, B.1.1.529,
as a variant of concern, named Omicron.
The new Omicron variant was first
reported to the WHO from South Africa on 24 November, 2021. It has also been
identified in Botswana, Belgium, Hong Kong and Israel.
It appears to be spreading
rapidly in parts of South Africa and scientists are concerned its unusually
high number of mutations could make it more transmissible and result in immune
evasion.
The WHO said it would take a few
weeks to understand the impact of the new variant, as scientists worked to
determine how transmissible it was.
What we know about the new
variant
"It is the most heavily
mutated version of the virus we have seen to date. This variant carries some
changes we've seen previously in other variants but never all together in one
virus. It also has novel mutations," Lawrence Young, a virologist and a
professor of molecular oncology at Warwick Medical School in the United Kingdom
said in a statement.
The variant has a high number of
mutations, about 50 overall. Crucially, South African genomic scientists said
Thursday more than 30 of the mutations were found in the spike protein.
The epidemiological picture
suggests that this variant may be more transmissible, and several mutations are
consistent with enhanced transmissibility and an increased risk of reinfection.
Current SARS-CoV-2 PCR
diagnostics continue to detect this variant. Several labs have indicated that
for one widely used PCR test, one of the three target genes is not detected
(called S gene dropout or S gene target failure) and this test can therefore be
used as marker for this variant, pending sequencing confirmation.
Vaccine efficacy against the new variant
One big concern is that the new
variant might reduce vaccine effectiveness because of its large number of
mutations. Scientists said it was too early to tell the full impact of the
mutations on vaccine efficacy.
Vaccine maker Moderna said Friday
the combination of mutations seen in the new Omicron variant represents a
"significant potential risk to accelerate the waning of natural and
vaccine-induced immunity."
The company said it was working
rapidly to test the ability of its vaccine to neutralize the new variant and
data was expected in the coming weeks.
AstraZeneca, another vaccine
maker, said it was looking to understand the impact the Omicron variant has on
its coronavirus vaccine, and was testing its antibody combination therapy
against the new variant.
Number of countries banning
travelers from several southern African countries.
Source:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-59442129
Note: For informational purposes only. Consult your
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