The latest findings from the studies of the new “Omicron” variant, which is gradually spreading all over the planet, give scientists hope and optimism. It may be more contagious – as the data show in South Africa – but its symptoms are very mild. Scientists typically say they look like a common cold, with the vast majority of patients being asymptomatic and not in need of treatment.
“There are 336 confirmed cases of the variant in the UK, a big increase from 90 on Sunday. “None of these people, however, have been hospitalized,” said British Health Minister Sajid Javid.
Omicron travels very fast around the world and it seems that due to its increased transmissibility it will soon become dominant by displacing the Delta mutation. However, its morbidity, for the time being, does not frighten the medical community.
“We have a variant that could displace a more aggressive strain, such as Delta, and in the best case scenario, evolve into a virus.
which will look like a common cold, “said Paul Ofit, a member of the U.S. Vaccination Committee.
U.S. researchers say the new variant has extracted genetic material from the common cold.
“The Omicron variant probably acquired at least one of its mutations by collecting a piece of genetic material from another virus – possibly the one that causes the common cold. “This could mean that the virus is more easily transmitted and only causes mild or asymptomatic disease,” said Massachusetts-based data analyst Nference in the United States.
“If we have a virus that does not infect the lungs, does not appear to cause serious illness or hospitalization and of course death, then it could cause immunity in the population very quickly,” said Professor Adrian Hill, a vaccine specialist.
In South Africa, the focus of the new variant, the positivity index jumped to 26.4% from 2.3% two weeks ago.
The vast majority of patients, however, present with mild symptoms. Many patients, in fact, were admitted to the hospital for other reasons and only after the test was it found that they had been infected by the Omicron strain.
Despite the restrained optimism, scientists warn that we must wait at least another two weeks to unlock all of Micron’s secrets and be able to draw safe conclusions. And the medical community is emphasizing that our most powerful weapon against the coronary artery is still vaccines.
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