Omicron Variant; Panic mode on?
Omicron Variant; Panic mode on?
So you are up to go shopping for Christmas 2021 and New year 2022? Have you got your cash, car keys, and sanitizer? Well, it’s not enough; time to get your mask on again. Please don’t panic, and it’s nothing new to be concerned about viruses since the COVID-19 outbreak; now there comes a mutation of the virus known as the Omicron variant. Tracing back the past few months, the outbreak seemed to be at a slower pace, and everything seemed to get back OK, like “Snapback to normal.” So what is this Omicron variant all about? Would you please care to put on your mask & wash your hands because we are going to find out about Omicron in this article?
As WHO declares the Omicron variant as a global risk, we need to be extra careful with ourselves. The times are not just standard; it has been found that the Omicron variant is more dangerous and contagious than the other variants. The Omicron variant was first detected in Africa as the medical experts learned that they had been dealing with something different and dangerous than they had prepared for. However, the researchers still need more time to understand the severity level of this variant. Not just in Africa, the virus has invaded countries such as the United Kingdom, Belgium, Botswana, Germany, Italy, Hong Kong, Israel. However, the countries with an extensive population are at greater risk. The United States reacted immediately to the situation by wholly banning travel from Africa and the countries where the Omicron variant has been spotted. Last year, the United States alone witnessed 833,029 deaths due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Not to forget India, with more than 1.3 billion population, had rough times dealing with the recent outbreak. India has also detected the Omicron variant as a 20-year-old boy reaches India from the United Kingdom. The researchers seemed to be quite perplexed as still a whole bunch of people is still not vaccinated.
Here are a few statistics about the Indian and United States’ vaccination programs.
# | Country, Other | Total Cases | New Cases | Total Deaths | New Deaths | Total Recovered | New Recovered | Active Cases | Serious, Critical | Tot Cases/ 1M pop | Deaths/ 1M pop | Total Tests | Tests/ 1M pop | Population |
World | 277,575,992 | +73,205 | 5,395,365 | +2,012 | 248,756,899 | +155,278 | 23,423,728 | 89,488 | 35,610 | 692.2 | ||||
1 | USA | 52,510,978 | 833,029 | 40,908,146 | 10,769,803 | 16,187 | 157,284 | 2,495 | 795,166,534 | 2,381,732 | 333,860,677 | |||
2 | India | 34,765,976 | 478,759 | 34,208,926 | +6,960 | 78,291 | 8,944 | 24,833 | 342 | 668,643,929 | 477,611 | 1,399,976,270 |
Source: Worldometer
Here you can see the comical line as the dramatic increase in cases increased.
About Omicron variant
Let us understand all you need to know about the Omicron in detail. We’ll start with the research conducted by researchers in South Africa and worldwide. Before we delve into Omicron, we need to understand that Omicron’s structure is one of the most significant concerns for medical experts. As per the research conducted by researchers, it has been found that the new variant has 30 mutations on the spike protein, which makes the scientists frown about its severity
Spike protein:
We can understand the Spike protein as a part of the virus that can bind to the cell and cause infections. We need to understand what a Spike protein is; Spike is a glycosylated transmembrane fusion protein that ranges from 1,160 to 1,400 amino acids, depending on the type of virus. The Spike proteins are much more potent than the M and E-proteins. Hence, it can initiate penetration and infect the body way worse. It can be derived that the S proteins of coronaviruses are composed of two subunits of vital importance: the N-terminal S1 subunit, which serves as the head of the S protein; and the C-terminal S2 region, which forms the stalk of the protein and is directly embedded in the viral envelope.
The parameters of evaluating the emergency due to the Omicron variant is its transmission and severity will be discussed in the following paragraphs:
Transmission:
The researchers have been dedicating enough time to understand it fully. However, there is still uncertainty whether Omicron is more transmissible (e.g., more accessible to spread from one person to another) than any variant like Delta. According to their views, it is contagious because the number of South Africans testing positive for this variant has rapidly increased. However, epidemiological studies are being conducted to determine whether this is the result of Omicron.
The severity of disease: Just like transmission, the severity is unclear whether infection with Omicron causes more severe disease than infections with other variants, including Delta. South Africa’s hospitalization rates are increasing, but this may result from a general increase in infections rather than a consequence of specific Omicron infections. The symptoms of Omicron do not appear to differ from those of other variants. Initial incidents were reported among university students, who tend to have milder diseases, but understanding the severity of the Omicron variant will take several weeks. Even the variations of COVID-19 that are dominant worldwide, such as the Delta variant, are capable of causing severe disease and death. Therefore, prevention is vital.
Is the Omicron variant
deadly?
Well, if you are looking to comfort yourself with the good news, you may have to wait for a while as this is too early to make assumptions about it. However, you can still feel a bit positive as the Omicron variant reports no death till now.
Sigh of relief? But inhale it with your mask-on.
Is vaccination worth it?
Even though the chances of reinfection are there still, it’s pretty much, yes!. Vaccines, including COVID-19, are still effective against the virus based on the WHO’s research on the potential effects of the virus on our countermeasures. The prevalence of the dominant circulating variant, Delta, can be reduced significantly with vaccinations. The current vaccines maintain their efficacy against deaths and severe conditions. Some studies have even found that the vaccinated individuals are at three times lower risk of catching Omicron. It is suggested to get vaccinated at soon as possible; for information about getting vaccinated, click here.
Recommendations by WHO
WHO took charge of the situation and made suggestions for the other countries to save themselves from the new variant.
Countries should continue implementing effective public health measures to reduce COVID-19 circulation using risk analysis and a science-based approach. Strengthening capacity for case management in medicine and public health is one of them, and the WHO offers guidance and support for both preparedness and response. A second crucial issue is the elimination of inequities in the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine to ensure that vulnerable groups everywhere, such as health workers and older individuals, receive their first and second doses, along with equitable access to treatment and diagnostics.
Recommended actions for people
As the situations were worse during last year, we need to be extra careful with ourselves. According to the World Health organization, COVID-19 is most easily prevented by keeping a physical distance of at least one meter from others; wearing a mask; opening windows to improve ventilation; avoiding poorly ventilated or crowded spaces; keeping hands clean; coughing or sneezing into a bent elbow or tissue, and getting vaccinated when the time comes. Upon receiving more information, including following TAG-VE meetings, WHO will continue to provide updates.
Disclaimer
This post aims to spread awareness about the Omicron variant, keeping personal safety the utmost concern. Henceforth, we assure you that intense research has been conducted to write the post. The data has been collected from internationally reputed and trusted sources such as WHO, CDC, world meter, and many more. We also request you to practice social distancing, proper cleanliness and refrain from panic. Panic and stress can be more dangerous than the virus itself in these situations.
Stay tuned with us for more information. We will continue to share the findings of these studies as they become available. Additionally, the WHO will share information on its social media platforms.