Omicron variant is quite infectious, says WHO chief scientist

The chief scientist of the WHO (World Health Organization), Soumya Swaminathan, told Reuters on Friday that although the new omicron variant of the coronavirus appears to be very transmissible, the correct reaction is to be prepared and cautious, but not panic.

WHO urged countries to strengthen health care capacity and vaccinate their populations to combat an increase in Covid-19 cases caused by the omicron variant, saying travel bans can buy time but are not the only answer.

“How worried should we be? We need to be prepared and cautious but not panic because we are in a different situation than a year ago,” Swaminathan said in an interview at the Reuters Next conference.

Although the emergence of the new variant is not welcome, she said the world is much more prepared due to the development of vaccines since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Much remains to be known about the omicron variant, which was first detected in southern Africa last month and localized in at least two dozen countries. Parts of Europe were already facing a wave of delta variant infections before it emerged.

“We need to wait, let’s hope it’s lenient…but it’s too early to conclude on the variant in general,” Swaminathan said of what is known about the omicron.

“Delta accounts for 99% of infections worldwide. This variant would have to be more transmissible to compete and become the dominant worldwide. It’s possible, but we can’t predict.”

The WHO lead scientist said that omicron appears to be causing three times more infections than previously seen in South Africa, meaning it “appears to be able to overcome some of the natural immunity of the previous infection”.

Vaccines seem to be having some effect.

“The fact that they are not getting sick… means that the vaccines are still providing protection, and we hope they will continue to provide,” the scientist said.

Asked about the need for annual vaccine boosters, Swaminathan said that “WHO is preparing for all scenarios”, which could include an additional dose, especially among some age groups or vulnerable parts of the population, or a modified vaccine.

“The natural infection acts as a booster,” the scientist said, adding that the new variant “may have originated in a country where there is not much genomic sequencing”, but its origins are unknown.

“We may never know,” she said.

Translated by Luiz Roberto M. Gonçalves.