On November 24 , scientists from South Africa alerted the World Health Organisation ( WHO ) of aheavily mutate COVID-19 variant , now named Omicron , and it was bear the variant mutate within the state . However , information has arisen that suggest Omicron was really in Europe up to 11 sidereal day prior to that alert , and Nigeria week before .
The Dutch health authorities have nowannouncedthat they have notice the variant from samples dating back to November 19 and November 23 , though it is not exculpated whether they had give back from South Africa at the time . At a exchangeable time , Nigeria hasannouncedthat they too have discover samples check the Omicron variant from October in a traveler that was entering the country – but they too are ill-defined where they were coming from .
Together , the datum suggests Omicron was spread southern Africa and even Europe by the time South Africa raise the alarum . Now , South Africa ’s scientists state they experience " punished " by many countries , that have now impose a change of location ban to South Africa – despite their telling genomic sequencing being the only reasonableness that the cosmos is aware of Omicron .
The Omicron variant is technically known asB.1.1.529 , a descendent of the B lineage that has preceded a numeral of evolved variant during the pandemic . While little stay known about the variant , it does carry 50 mutations overall , including 32 within the Spike protein itself , that may result in a change in transmissibility and disease severity . When the genome was sequenced , concerns were raised about how well the vaccine will get along against Omicron , and trials are presently afoot to determine whether a booster will be required . The WHO has now nock Omicron as a Variant of Concern , and has achieved that ill-famed title quicker than almost any other variant .
However , the WHO announced lately that most cases of Omicron are " balmy " and that there is " no evidence " that the mRNA vaccines will be less good , found on current data point . There is still no information about whether the unexampled variant is more transmissible .
" Viruses will develop to become more transmissible , ” said Professor Neil Ferguson , speaking about the Omicron variant , reportsSky News .
“ They can do this by becoming more intrinsically contagious , more infective like the Alpha variant was compared with the original breed of COVID , like the Delta version was more infective , in the extremely immune population they can derive transmissibility by parry immunity .
" It seem like , but we have n’t had it proven yet , the Omicron variant may confirm to be that latter type of evolution . "
