What We Know About Omicron, the New Virus Variant: QuickTake

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LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – A new variant of the coronavirus that causes Covid-19 has been identified in Botswana and South Africa, where it’s been associated with a steep increase in new cases. The strain — first called B.1.1.529 and later named omicron — poses a “very high” risk, according to the World Health Organization, which added it to its list of variants of concern. Governments around the world have started banning travelers from South Africa and nearby countries amid fears that omicron could evade vaccine-induced protection, spur another Covid surge and frustrate efforts to reopen economies.
1. What’s different about this variant?
The omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 is characterized by some 30 or more changes, three small deletions and one small insertion in the spike protein, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Half of the changes are in the receptor binding domain — the part of the spike protein used to bind to human ACE-2, which is the enzyme the coronavirus targets to enter cells and cause an infection. Mutations there can make the spike protein less recognizable to the antibodies made in response to vaccination or a natural infection. At least three mutations are associated with helping the virus escape detection from antibodies, Vinod Balasubramaniam, a virologist at the Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine & Health Sciences at Monash University in Malaysia, told the Australian Science Media Centre. Another mutation appears to increase the ability of the virus to gain entry to human cells, making it more transmissible, he said. Omicron is the most divergent variant detected in large numbers so far, raising concern that it may result in greater transmissibility, a significant reduction in vaccine effectiveness, and an increased risk for reinfections, the ECDC said Nov. 26. But researchers don’t yet know for sure.

Explainer: Alpha, Delta and More. Why Virus Variants Cause Alarm: QuickTake

2. Where did it come from?
It was first reported to the WHO from South Africa on Nov. 24, although the agency said the first known confirmed infection was from a specimen collected Nov. 9. It was also detected Nov. 11 in Botswana, according to the ECDC. A scientist at the UCL Genetics Institute in London said it likely evolved during a chronic infection of an immuno-compromised person, possibly in an untreated HIV/AIDS patient. In such a case, a prolonged SARS-CoV-2 infection could enable the virus to undergo genetic changes in the patient that are favorable for the pathogen. South Africa has 8.2 million people infected with HIV, the most in the world. The beta variant, a mutation identified last year in South Africa, also may have come from an HIV-infected person. 

Read more: Covid Variants Risk Rises in S. Africa With Biggest HIV Epidemic

3. How widespread is it?
Early PCR test results showed that 90% of 1,100 new cases reported Nov. 24 in the South African province that includes Johannesburg were caused by the new variant, according to Tulio de Oliveira, a bio-informatics professor who runs gene-sequencing institutions at two universities. South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa said Nov. 28 that the average daily cases in his country had jumped to about 1,600 from about 500 the previous week and 275 cases in the week before that. The proportion of Covid tests coming back positive increased to 9% from about 2% in less than a week. Only 36% of adults in South Africa are fully vaccinated. In neighboring Botswana, officials recorded four cases on Nov. 22, in people who were fully vaccinated. In Hong Kong, a traveler from South Africa was found to have the variant, and another case was identified in a person quarantined in a hotel room across the hall. Israel has also identified one case in a man who recently traveled to Malawi. Cases have also been reported in Belgium, Italy, Germany and the Netherlands.

This new variant, B.1.1.529 seems to spread very quick! In less than 2 weeks now dominates all infections following a devastating Delta wave in South Africa (Blue new variant, now at 75% of last genomes and soon to reach 100%)

4. How are countries responding?
The U.K., which has detected three Covid cases caused by omicron, has temporarily banned flights from South Africa and several other countries. Other countries have followed. Singapore is restricting entryfor people who have been in South Africa and nearby nations and postponed the launch of vaccinated travel lanes with three Middle East hubs. The European Union proposed member nations halt air travel from southern Africa. Australia tightened border rules for travelers from southern Africa, while India stepped up screening of incoming travelers from South Africa, Botswana and Hong Kong. Israel is stopping foreign nationals from entering the country for 14 days. South Africa’s Health Minister Joe Phaahla said new travel bans imposed on the country, particularly by the EU, were “unjustified.” Governments are also encouraging additional vaccinations to boost immunity.

5. How worrisome is this variant?
Given the mutations, the likelihood of potential further spread of omicron at the global level is high, the WHO said in a Nov. 29 technical briefing document. The severity of any future Covid surge would depend on a number of factors, including where the infections occur. The variant “has been detected at faster rates than previous surges in infection, suggesting that this variant may have a growth advantage,” the WHO said. There’s no information yet to suggest symptoms associated with omicron are different from those from other variants, it said earlier, adding that increasing rates of hospitalization in South Africa may be due to increasing overall numbers of people becoming infected, rather than a result of specific infection with omicron. Moderna Inc. Chief Medical Officer Paul Burton said on Nov. 28 that he suspects omicron may elude current vaccines, and if so, a reformulated shot could be available in early 2022. Covid vaccines have shown they are effective at reducing severe disease and death against previous variants. Steroids and medications known as IL6 receptor blockers will still be effective for managing patients with severe Covid, the WHO said. Other treatments will be assessed to see if they are still as effective. These include pills being developed by Merck & Co. and Pfizer Inc.

6. What is WHO recommending?
Steps to reduce the spread of SARS-CoV-2 include:

  • keeping a physical distance of at least 1 meter (3 feet) from others;
  • wearing a well-fitting face mask;
  • opening windows to improve ventilation;
  • avoiding poorly ventilated or crowded spaces;
  • frequent hand-washing;
  • coughing or sneezing into a bent elbow or tissue;
  • vaccination

7. What should we look out for next?  
WHO said it’s working with research teams around the world to better understand omicron. Studies underway or soon to begin include assessments of transmissibility, severity of infection (including symptoms), performance of vaccines and diagnostic tests, and effectiveness of treatments. Understanding the level of severity of the omicron variant will take “days to several weeks,” the Geneva-based agency said. In the U.S., which recently lifted a year-long ban on tourism from much of the world, top medical adviser Anthony Faucisaid he wants to see more data. BioNTech expects the first data from laboratory tests about how it interacts with its vaccine within two weeks.

Source: Bloomberg Business News

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