sheath of the Omicron ( B.1.1.529 ) COVID-19 edition , first notice in South Africa , have now been determine in several European countries .
Six new cases in Scotland werereported today , some of which with no bang travel account . This is in addition to three cases already detected in England , including one link to aprimary schoolin Brentwood , Essex .
Cases have also been reported in Italy , Belgium , Denmark , the Netherlands , Germany , the Czech Republic , and Portugal – where13 caseshave been associated with a football squad .
“ We are now in a race against time ” with the new variant , European Commission President Ursula von der Leyensaidon Sunday .
First cover to the World Health Organization ( WHO ) on Wednesday , Omicronhas since been found out of doors of Europe too – Botswana , Canada , Australia , Israel , and Hong Kong have all reported cases .
While no cases have yet been confirmed in the US , it ’s just a thing of clock time , according to Dr Anthony Fauci , President Biden ’s chief medical consultant . “ I would not be surprised if it is [ already in the US ] ” he toldNBCon Saturday .
So far , no deaths linked to the new variant have been reported , although the WHO cautions that the globose endangerment is very high-pitched .
“ increase cases , regardless of a alteration in severity , may present overpowering demands on healthcare systems and may direct to increase unwholesomeness and mortality . The impact on vulnerable population would be material , particularly in countries with down vaccination coverage , ” itsaidon Monday .
Vaccination coverage has come under scrutiny in recent days , with many blamingvaccine nationalismfor the egress of the new variant . Only5.8 percentof people in low - income countries have received at least one dose , compared to 73.68 percent of those in high-pitched - income countries . Such low vaccinum coverage could increase the risk of new SARS - CoV-2 variants by enable community of interests transmission . However , the relationship between the two is currently indecipherable .
extremely mutated variants – Omicron has an astonishing32 mutationsin the spike protein alone – can also spring up in individuals with a compromise resistant system , providing another possiblesourceof the new variant .
With its many sport , it is potential that the variant could evade our immune organization intimately than premature variants , but not much is known at this meter . “ It is not yet clear whether Omicron is more hereditary ” or “ whether [ it ] causes more severe disease , ” the WHO’slatest updatesays .
Patients in South Africa have so far had “ very mild symptoms , ” Dr Angelique Coetzee , the Dr. who first discovered the new var. , toldReuters . None have been hospitalized , she added .
" The most preponderant clinical complaint is severe fatigue for one or two days . With them , the headache and the body ache and annoyance . "
However , theWHOcounters that those early infections were reported in untested individuals , who are expected generally to have milder disease .
As for the potency of vaccinum against Omicron , the WHO and manufacturing business are investigate it . Moderna , Pfizer , and Johnson & Johnson are all testing their vaccines against the fresh variant , according toBusiness Insider .
Moderna says they could have a new vaccine by early 2022 , while Pfizer say theirs could be quick within 100 Clarence Day , if necessary . They should be intimate within two workweek whether their current vaccinum is effective against Omicron , a Pfizer spokesperson toldReuters .
