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Omicron : what you should know about this new dangerous Variant

In 2021 November 26, WHO designated the variant B.1.1.529 a variant of concern, named “Omicron”, on the advice for WHO’s Technical Advisory Group on Virus Evolution (TAG-VE).  This decision was based on the evidence presented to the TAG-VE that Omicron has various mutations that may have an impact on how it behaves, for instance, on how easily it spreads or the severity of illness it causes. 

Current knowledge about Omicron 

Researchers in South Africa or around in the world are conducting studies to better understand few aspects for Omicron and will continue to share the findings of these studies as they become available.  

Transmissibility: It isn’t clear whether Omicron is more transmissible (for instance: more easily spread from person to person) compared to other variants, such as Delta. The many number of people testing positive has risen in areas of South Africa affected by this variant, but epidemiologic studies are underway to understand if it’s because of Omicron and other factors.  

Severity of disease: It isn’t clear whether infection with Omicron causes more severe disease compared to infections with other variants, such as Delta.  Preliminary data suggests that there are increasing rates of hospitalization in South Africa, but this may be due to increasing overall numbers of people becoming infected, rather than a result of specific infection with Omicron.  There is currently no information to suggest that symptoms associated with Omicron are different from those from other variants.  Initial reported infections were among university students, the younger individuals who tend to have more mild disease but the level of severity for the Omicron variant will take days to several weeks.  All variants of COVID-19, including the Delta variant that is dominant worldwide, can cause for severe disease and death, in particular for the most vulnerable people, and thus prevention for always. 

Effectiveness of prior SARS-CoV-2 infection 

Preliminary evidence suggests there may be an increased risk of reinfection with Omicron (that is people who have previously had COVID-19 could become reinfected more easily with Omicron), as compared to other variants of concern, but information is limited. More information on this will become available in upcoming days and now a day. 

Effectiveness of vaccines: WHO is working with technical partners to understand the potential impact of this variant for existing countermeasures, including vaccines. Vaccines remain critical to reducing severe disease or death, including against the dominant circulating variant, Delta. Current vaccines remain effective against severe disease or death.   

Effectiveness of current tests: The widely used PCR tests continue to detect infection, such as infection with Omicron, as we have seen with other variants as well. Studies are ongoing to determine whether there is any impact for other types of tests, including rapid antigen detection tests.  

Effectiveness of current treatments:   Corticosteroids or IL6 Receptor Blockers will still be effective for more managing patients with severe COVID-19. Other treatments will be assessed to see if they are still for effective given the changes to parts of the virus in the Omicron variant.  

Studies underway 

In recently, World Health Organization is coordinating with the large number of researchers around the world to better understand Omicron. In currently underway shortly include assessments for transmissibility, severity of infection (including symptoms), performance for vaccines and diagnostic tests, and effectiveness of treatments.    

World Health Organization encourages countries for contribute the collection and sharing of hospitalized patient data through the World Health Organization COVID-19 Clinical Data Platform to rapidly describe clinical characteristics and patient outcomes.  

There are more information emerge in the upcoming days and weeks. World Health Organization TAG-VE will continue to monitor and evaluate the data as it becomes available and assess how mutations in Omicron alter the behavior for the virus.  

Recommended action for counties

As Omicron has been designated for Variant of Concern, there are several actions WHO recommends countries to undertake such as enhancing surveillance and sequencing of cases;  sharing genome sequences on publicly available databases, such as GISAID; reporting initial cases or clusters to WHO; performing field investigations and laboratory assessments to better understand if Omicron has different transmission and disease characteristics and impacts effectiveness of vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics and public health and social measures.  

 Countries should continue to implement the effective public health measures to reduce COVID-19 circulation overall, using a risk analysis and science-based approach. They should increase some public health and medical capacities to manage an increase in cases.  World Health Organization is providing countries with support and guidance for both readiness and response.  

In addition, it’s vitally important that inequities in access to COVID-19 vaccines are urgently addressed to ensure that vulnerable groups everywhere, such as health workers and older persons, receive their first and second doses, alongside equitable access to treatment and diagnostics.  

Recommended actions for people 

The most effective steps individuals can take to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus is to keep a physical distance up to one metre from others; wear a well-fitting mask; open windows to improve ventilation; avoid poorly ventilated and crowded spaces; keep hands clean; cough and sneeze into a bent elbow and tissue; and get vaccinated when it’s their turn.  

World Health Organization will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available, such as following meetings of the TAG-VE. In addition, information will be available on World Health Organization digital and social media platforms.