The identification of the Omicron variant has sparked growing concerns over its unusually high number of mutations and rapid spread in South Africa. The United States restricted travelers from South Africa and seven other countries starting Monday. It joined at least 10 other countries restricting travel from the region, including Belgium, Britain, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, Malta, the Netherlands, the Philippines, and Singapore.
Following the severe second wave in Nepal, the continuous drop in COVID-19 cases has given rise to the hope that a return to normalcy is on the horizon. Restrictions have loosened across the nation, supported by the fact that the festival season did not result in a dramatic increase in cases, and public attitude has mostly returned to normal.
In this context, a new strain of SARS-CoV-2 namedB.1.1.529,initially identified in South Africa on 11 November 2021, is alarming health officials all across the world, triggering additional travel restrictions due to concerns that this might be resistant to the existing vaccines.There are also reported cases in Hong Kong, Israel, apparently originating from a traveler from Malawi, and in Belgium, from someone who had traveled from Egypt.
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Just two days after the world learned of the variant, the World Health Organization officially declared the B.1.1.529, a variant of concern (VOC), and added it to the growing list of such viruses, labeling it Omicron, after the 15th letter of the Greek alphabet. The B.1.617 variant is the fifth variant to be designated as being of global concern.
This variant has been detected containing a high number of mutations within its spike protein, some of which may help the virus to evade vaccine-induced immune protection. B.1.1.529 is known to contain 50 mutations in the genome of the omicron variant that set it apart from the original strain of SARS-CoV-2 first identified in Wuhan, China. Scientists worry that some of the mutations could make the virus easier to transmit, however, they do not yet know whether omicron is more transmissible or dangerous. Many of these mutations are also found in other variants, including the Delta variant, but many others are not. It's not clear yet whether the mutations make this variant more infectious or whether it causes more severe illness, but researchers say the high number of mutations to the "spike proteins'' — the focus of a body's immune response — may make it more able to get past the body's defenses. Preliminary evidence suggests an increased risk of reinfection with this variant, as compared to others. This variant has a large number of mutations, some of which are concerning. Given the large number of mutations it has accumulated apparently in a single burst, it likely evolved during chronic infection of an immunocompromised person, possibly in untreated HIV/AIDS patients as stated by the scientists. Moreover, the genetic changes that are predicted or known to affect virus characteristics such as transmissibility, disease severity, immune escape, a diagnostic or therapeutic escape are the significant cause of concern.
The identification of the Omicron variant has sparked growing concerns over its unusually high number of mutations and rapid spread in South Africa. The United States restricted travelers from South Africa and seven other countries starting Monday. It joined at least 10 other countries restricting travel from the region, including Belgium, Britain, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, Malta, the Netherlands, the Philippines, and Singapore.
Current SARS-CoV-2 PCR diagnostics continue to detect this variant. Several labs have indicated that for one widely used PCR test, one of the three target genes is not detected (called S gene dropout or S gene target failure) and this test can therefore be used as a marker for this variant, pending sequencing confirmation. Using this approach, this variant has been detected at faster rates than previous surges in infection, suggesting that this variant may have a growth advantage.There are several studies underway that will continue to evaluate this variant. The identification and tracking of new variants, including Omicron, relies on testing and sequencing capacity, which continue to be under-resourced in low- and middle-income countries like Nepal.
As such, enhanced surveillance and sequencing efforts to better understand circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants are required. Complete genome sequences where capacity exists and in coordination with the international community, it is highly recommended to perform field investigations and laboratory assessments to improve understanding of the potential impacts of the variant.
Likewise, Individuals are reminded to take preventive measures to reduce their risk of COVID-19, including proven public health and social measures such as wearing well-fitting masks, hand hygiene, physical distancing, improving the ventilation of indoor spaces, avoiding crowded spaces, and getting vaccinated. Meanwhile, we must continue to make every effort to avoid viral transmission and vaccinate as many people as possible as quickly as feasible.
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