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November 30, 2021 – The newly discovered variant of Omicron COVID-19 may be highly contagious and less responsive to available vaccines than other mutations, but it is too early to know how it is compared to the Delta variant, a senior infectious disease officer. Diseases Anthony Fauci, Ph.D., said Tuesday.
Speaking at a briefing on COVID-19 at the White House, Fauci said there was a “very unusual constellation of changes” in the COVID-19 genome, indicating that it did not look like any of the variants we had seen so far.
“This mutation profile is very different from other variants of interest and concern, and although some mutations have also been found in Delta, it is not Delta,” he said. “These mutations are associated with increased transmissibility and avoidance of immunity.”
Omicron is the fifth concern of COVID-19.
First discovered in South Africa, Omicron has so far been found in 20 countries. There are no known cases in the United States yet, but it has been found in Canada.
Omicron has more than 30 mutations in spike protein, the part of the virus that binds to human cells, Fauci said.
Although the mutations suggest that there is increased transmission of this variant, he said it is too early to know how this compares to the Delta variant. And although vaccines may not be as effective against Omicron, he said there will likely be some protection.
“Remember, as with other options, although partial avoidance of immunity may occur, vaccines – especially boosters – give antibody levels, which, even with options like Delta, give you a degree of cross-protection, especially against severe disease. . Said Fauci.
“When we say that although these mutations suggest a reduction in protection and a degree of immune avoidance, we can still reasonably conclude from the Delta experience that you will not remove all protection against this particular option.
For now, there is no reason to believe that Omicron will cause more severe disease than other options for anxiety.
“Although some preliminary information from South Africa does not suggest unusual symptoms associated with the variant, we do not know and it is too early to say,” Fauci said.
He advised people to continue wearing masks, washing their hands and avoiding crowded indoor areas. Most importantly, he recommended that everyone get their vaccines and boosters.
“One thing has become clear in the last 20 months: we cannot predict the future, but we can be prepared for it,” CDC Director Rochelle Valenski told a briefing. “We have a lot more tools to combat the option today than at that time last year.”
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