A significant and relatively more contagious coronavirus variant discovered by South African researchers has compelled a new series of government restrictions around the world, raising concerns as to what the virus outbreak may bring after this. The World Health Organization has recognized this as Omicron, as a strain of major worry, and said research is ongoing while specialists closely monitor it.
Experts Advise On Omicron Variant, Its Symptoms, And Warning
While experts claim there is a great deal of concern about Omicron, they emphasize that there are still unanswered questions that need to be answered to know more about this variant, such as whether this variant is indeed more transmittable, if it affects the breathing system, or what will the current vaccines are impactful against Omicron or not.
“While all this is troubling, as the WHO has stated, we believe we need to pause for a moment and sit together to find the cause of this variant.
The Omicron variant was first detected in South Africa and the world got to know about this on 24 November 2021. The researchers are still working on it to understand the strain. The statistical data available is not enough to answer the tough questions being raised by the Omicron coronavirus variant. Scientists and medical researchers need more time to learn more about this highly transmissible infection.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and Chief Medical Adviser, stated that US medical officials should confirm in a week or two how drastic the occurrences related to the new subtype would be.
Fauci stated that US health authorities are collecting information from their peers in South Africa, with whom they have been in direct contact. The Omicron variant was life-threatening in South Africa, however, that doesn’t mean it will spread somewhere else, according to Dr. Francis Collins, head of the National Institutes of Health, on Monday. “I think it’s obvious from what’s occurred in South Africa that this Omicron version spreads quickly.
“What researchers don’t understand is whether this Omicron variant will eventually overtake Delta in a nation such as ours, or whether Delta will end up pushing it aside due to its success. That is yet another unspecified. The Omicron variant carries around 50 mutants which is more than the Delta version, so it raises the question that experts must expect this variant to spread faster.
As per reports from US CDC, till Monday The US has not witnessed any case of the Omicron version which offers much time to the vaccine manufacturers to induce something new to the market to reduce the widespread and hospitalization rate amongst the non-vaccinated.
Collins advised that the best way to stay safe and protected is by availing the benefits of booster shots, if eligible. The unvaccinated people are at much higher risk than the vaccinated citizens in the US as winters are arriving and the mutant will travel more during this time. This will increase the number of cases and right now average per day cases are 94,000 and might increase more by 40 percent if not vaccinated.
