Ômicron is the name of the new variant identified in South Africa

The WHO (World Health Organization) named as omicron the new variant of Sars-Cov-2 –causer of Covid– sequenced for the first time in South Africa.

The name was given this Friday (26), at a meeting at which the independent technical group (TAG-VE) that advises the WHO classified the variant as “of concern”: “Preliminary evidence suggests an increased risk of reinfection with this variant, compared to other mutants of concern”.

On Thursday, the organization had warned that it will take “a few weeks” to understand the effects of many omicron mutations on contagion, the severity of the disease or the effectiveness of the vaccine.

Scientists in South Africa and the United Kingdom said they were working “24 hours a day” to unravel the new mutant, and immunization manufacturers have also begun to prepare to adapt their drugs to the micron if necessary.

Fears that the new variant is even more transmissible than delta, but not as susceptible to the vaccines already available, have made governments around the world suspend flights from southern Africa and impose quarantines on those arriving from countries where it has been detected, like Israel and Belgium, in addition to the Africans.

Names derived from the Greek alphabet are part of the nomenclature system used by the WHO to identify new mutations — among other objectives, such as avoiding technical acronyms, is to prevent countries from becoming stigmatized for having carried out the sequencing.

Until becoming an omicron, the new mutant had been called by the technical acronym B.1.1.529, which designates its position in a coronavirus lineage system.

WHO and scientists are tracking variants that could potentially more easily infect humans or evade the protection offered by vaccines.

In general, when a new mutant has genetic alterations that are known to affect the characteristics of the virus or there is such a potential, the variant is called “of interest” and surveillance on it is intensified — this is the case of mu, identified in Colombia.

If, after comparison with other mutants, it is shown to have an impact on global health, they become “of concern”—like alpha, beta, gamma, and delta.

Among the characteristics of a variant of concern are increased transmissibility or harmful change in Covid’s epidemiology, increased virulence or change in the clinical presentation of the disease, or decreased public health effectiveness and social measures or available diagnostics, vaccines and therapies .

In the report of this afternoon’s meeting, TAG-VE stated that, “in recent weeks, infections have risen sharply, coinciding with detection of the B.1.1.529 variant [agora chamada de ômicron]”. According to the group, the number of cases of this variant appears to be increasing in almost every province in South Africa.

“Several laboratories have indicated that, for a widely used PCR test, one of the three target genes is not detected (called S gene loss or S gene failure) and this test can therefore be used as a marker for this variant , while confirmation of sequencing is pending. Using this approach, this variant was detected at faster rates than previous peaks of infection, suggesting that this variant may have a growth advantage—which indicates that it may cause more damage than original version of the coronavirus.”

Throughout the day, as stock exchanges tumbled, airports closed and restrictions mounted, scientists warned of the need to vaccinate as many people as possible against Covid-19, as large groups of unvaccinated people allow the virus to circulate more freely, which speeds up their mutations.

For specialists, the vaccination effort needs to be intensified, especially in populations in poor countries where, until now, few have been immunized.

In addition to vaccines, it is necessary to maintain public health measures and individual care that prevent the transmission of the pathogen, say the scientists.

This is because immunizing agents, although highly effective against serious illnesses and deaths caused by Covid, do not completely prevent contagion, and the protection offered reduces over time.

In the report, TAG-VE recommended all countries to increase surveillance and sequencing systems to better understand the variants circulating in their territory, and to share the information in international networks.

FOURTH WAVE LESSONS

How to avoid a new spike in cases and deaths

1 – Public health measures

• Vaccinate as many elderly, vulnerable and health professionals as possible
• Vaccinate as much of the adult population as possible
• Listening to those who refuse the vaccine to understand their reasons, answer their questions and restore confidence in immunization
• Vaccinate young people and children, in countries where there are enough and already approved immunization agents for these age groups
• Give all adults a booster dose six months after full vaccination, prioritizing elderly and vulnerable
• Maintain testing system, contact tracking and isolation of suspected cases
• Keep clear guidelines against crowding and using a mask indoors or where distancing is not possible
• Disclose information clearly and transparently
• When numbers ebb, withdraw restrictions gradually, without reducing vigilance

2 – Individual measurements

• Get fully vaccinated and take the booster six months after full vaccination, if available.
• Avoid agglomerations and closed places
• Wear masks when distancing is impossible; effective mask use involves covering your mouth and nose and avoiding contamination by removing the mask.
• Cover mouth and nose with the inside of the elbow when coughing or sneezing, to avoid hand-transmission of the virus
• Wash your hands constantly, with soap, for at least 20 seconds
• Test yourself for symptoms and avoid contact until you get a negative result
• Isolate yourself and notify contacts if you have a positive result