Geneva: Varian Omicron has been reported in 57 countries and the number of patients requiring hospitalization is likely to increase due to spread, the World Health Organization said on Wednesday.
WHO, in its weekly epidemiological report, said that more data are needed to assess the severity of disease caused by a variant omicron and whether its mutation may reduce the protection of immunity from the vaccine.
“Even if the same severity or potentially lower than Delta variant, is expected hospitalization will increase if more people were infected and there will be a time lag between an increase in the incidence of cases and increased incidence of death,” he said.
On November 26, stating Omicron variant, which was first detected in South Africa, a variant of concern.
It is a strain of SARS-CoV-2 fifth to bring such appointment.
The number of cases Covid-19 were reported in South Africa doubled in the week to 5 December to more than 62,000 and a “huge” increase in incidence was seen in Eswatini, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia, and Lesotho, he said.
Omicron deployment, coupled with enhanced testing and low vaccination rates may have played a role, he added.
Referring to the risk of reinfection, which says: “The preliminary analysis showed that mutations in the variant omicron can reduce the activity of neutralizing antibodies resulting in the reduction of protection of natural immunity.” “There is a need for more data to assess whether the mutation is in omicron variants can lead to a reduction of protection of immunity and vaccine data obtained on the effectiveness of the vaccine, including the use of additional vaccine doses,” he said.
Omicron variants can partially avoid the protection of two doses of vaccine Covid-19 manufactured by Pfizer Inc.
and Biontech, head of research laboratories in African Health Research Institute in South Africa on Tuesday, reported the results of a small study.
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