The World Health Organisation (WHO) has classified the new Covid variant as the 'Variant of Concern.' The strain has spread to neighbouring countries, being first identified in South Africa. B.1.1.529 or Omicron (the new variant) carries a high number of mutations in its spike protein.
As the world reopens after 18-20 months of the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdowns, a new variant of the coronavirus - being called as B.1.1.529 or Omicron - has been identified in South Africa that has left the scientific community worried and has created chaos once again amongst the countries, as they fear that this new strain could fuel outbreaks in several countries and cripple health systems once again. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has classified the new Covid variant as the 'Variant of Concern' following the Technical Advisory Group meeting. Based on the evidence presented indicative of a detrimental change in Covid-19 epidemiology, the TAG-VE has advised WHO that this variant should be designated as a Variant of Concern, and the WHO has designated B.1.1.529 as a VOC, named Omicron", said the worldwide health body in a statement. It is being identified as highly transmissible.
Here are five things you should know about this deadly super new Covid variant (Omicron) that has forced several countries, including the UK, Israel, Italy, and Singapore, to restrict travel from South Africa and other countries within the region.
1. According to South African health officials, the 'B.1.1.529' variant or Omicron has many more mutations than scientists expected, especially after a severe third wave, which was driven by the Delta variant. Many of the mutations are of concern for immune evasion and transmissibility.
2. B.1.1.529 or Omicron carries a high number of mutations in its spike protein, which plays a key role in the virus' entry into cells in the body. The B.1.1.529 variant has 50 mutations overall, including over 30 on the spike protein alone which is the target of most current Covid vaccines.
3. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said it will take some weeks to understand the impact of the new variant. Scientists have said it is the most heavily mutated version yet, which means that vaccines, designed using the first strain from Wuhan in China, might not be as effective. The WHO has officially designated a variant of concern.
4. First identified in South Africa in the week , the strain has spread to nearby countries, including Botswana. Israel has identified a case of a Covid-19 variant with an outsized number of mutations "in an individual who returned from Malawi". Two cases have been detected in Hong Kong . India has drawn up rigorous screening of passengers from South Africa , Botswana, and Hong Kong .
5. There are still speculations floating round the variant's origin. According to Francois Balloux, Director of the London-based UCL Genetics Institute, the new strain "likely evolved during a chronic infection of an immuno-compromised person, possibly in an untreated HIV/AIDS patient".
How did this new variant arise?
The coronavirus mutates because it spreads and many new variants, including those with worrying genetic changes, often just die out.
Scientists monitor COVID-19 sequences for mutations that might make the disease more transmissible or deadly, but they cannot determine that just by looking at the virus. They must compare the pattern of spread and genetic sequence of the viruses to know the connection between them. Some scientists have assumed that it might have emerged from people with weak immune system due to high mutations being possible.