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COVID-19 variant Omicron is spreading fast around the world. More countries are announcing the arrival of the new variant every day. Travel restrictions around the globe threaten to return to the level of last year when the pandemic was at its peak. Researchers report that the new variant transmits faster than the Delta variant.
The variant was first reported in South Africa. It is considered more infectious than other variants so far reported because it has undergone multiple mutations. A mutation is a process where changes occur in a living organism’s genetic material, which can alter its behavior like infection rate and immunity against medical treatment.
What is Omicron?
Omicron is the new variant of coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 that is causing COVID-19 pandemic. WHO has formally named it as B.1.1.529.
Where did the Omicron variant originate?
The Omicron variant was first detected in South Africa on November 24, 2021, and is continuing to spread to other countries. WHO has designated it as “a variant of concern.”
Is Omicron different from the Delta variant?
The Delta variant declared a Variant of Interest (VoI) on May 11, 2021, after the strain appeared in India first. Omicron has undergone more mutations than the Delta variant, and dozens of the mutations have occurred on the spike protein that the Covid-19 vaccines target.
Why is the Omicron strain a variant of concern?
Genomic studies show that the Omicron strain has a high number of mutations. The high rate of transmissibility of the strain is because these mutations are in the spike protein of the virus. Experts say 32 of these mutations affect the spike protein that helps the invading virus attach itself to human cells. The spike protein produces the antigen, which is the main target of antibodies that are generated by the human body’s immune system. Most widely administered vaccines also target the spike protein preventing infection. It is feared that the change in the structure of the spike protein may make it difficult for most vaccines to neutralize the virus by preventing the infection.
Which countries have reported Omicron infection?
While local transmission of the virus has been confirmed in South Africa and Botswana, the virus has been detected in several southern African nations. Outside Africa, the variant has been detected in travelers reaching Australia, Austria, Belgium, Britain, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and Hong Kong.
Has the new variant affected international travel?
Many nations, including the United States and the United Kingdom, have banned flights from southern African countries, including South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia and Angola. European Union is considering an identical ban as many nations are already witnessing a surge in the Delta variant.
How does WHO name SARS-CoV-2 virus variants?
WHO’s expert committee has been naming the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 after the Greek alphabet. The first variant to be identified was named, understandably, as Alpha and the next three as Beta, Gamma, and Delta, respectively. A new variant is first categorized as Variant under Monitoring (VUM). If it is found to be infectious, it is named Variant of Interest (VoI). If the variant turns out to be highly transmissible, it is categorized as Variant of Concern (VoC).
Omicron variant was designated a VuM on November 24, 2021 and the threat perception was upgraded to VoC on November 16, 2021. On the other hand, the Delta variant was designated as VoI on April 4, 2021 and re-categorized as VoC on May 11, 2021.
Currently designated Variants of Concern (VOCs)+:
WHO label
Pango
lineage•
Additional amino
acid changes monitored°
Earliest
documented
samples
Date of
designation
Alpha
B.1.1.7
+S:484K
+S:452R
United
Kingdom,
Sep-2020
18-Dec-2020
Beta
B.1.351
+S:L18F
South Africa,
May-2020
18-Dec-2020
Gamma
P.1
+S:681H
Brazil,
Nov-2020
11-Jan-2021
Delta
B.1.617.2
+S:417N
+S:484K
India,
Oct-2020
VOI: 4-Apr-2021
VOC: 11-May-2021
Omicron*
B.1.1.529
-
Multiple countries, Nov-2021
VUM: 24-Nov-2021
VOC: 26-Nov-2021
Are there any more Variant of Interest (VoI) on the WHO
list?
There are two strains that have been identified as Variants
of Interest (VoI). They have been named Lamda, designated on June 14, 2021 and
Mu, designated on August 30.
Currently designated Variants of Interest (VOIs):
WHO label
Pango
lineage*
Earliest
documented
samples
Date of
designation
Lambda
C.37
Peru, Dec-2020
14-Jun-2021
Mu
B.1.621
Colombia, Jan-2021
30-Aug-2021
Will governments shut down businesses again like last year?
It is too early to say something will take given the nature of the genetic
mutations that have occurred. However, a silver lining is that national governments
have learnt how to handle a pandemic from last two deadly waves of the coronavirus.
Moreover, the about the pandemic and preventive measures could
help tone down its pace of progress. Although the currently available vaccines
are yet to be tested for efficacy against the new variant, some may weaken the virus.
Overall, human race is better positioned to handle Omicron than the previous variants.