The Netherlands National Institute of Public Health (RIVM) reported this November 30 that it found the presence of the new variant of Sars-Cov-2 Omicron in diagnostic tests that were carried out days before the South African authorities reported on the detection of the new variant in its territory. Meanwhile, several countries report new cases of the variant, also known as B.1.1.529, as restrictions are tightened.
The new findings of epidemiologists about the new variant of the Sars-Cov-2 Omicron virus make it clear that it was leaked in the Netherlands before the alarms were raised.
The European nation reported that SARS COV-2 B.1.1.529 was already circulating in its territory before the South African authorities reported its detection.
The National Institute of Public Health (RIVM) found the Omicron presence in samples dating from November 19. And according to the World Health Organization, South Africa first reported on the variant on November 24.
It is probable that the South African authorities themselves were also unaware of its existence before that date. The country has been praised for alerting the global scientific community and WHO as quickly as it learned about Ómicron, a step considered brave given the damage that travel restrictions imposed by various countries have caused its tourism sector.
Although it was first discovered in the African nation, it is not yet clear exactly where or when it arose. The recent announcement by the Dutch authorities further questions the timeline on the origin and spread of the new variant, which once again leaves the world torn between hopes of returning to normality and fears of a new outbreak of the pandemic. .
Although the Netherlands has already imposed restrictions, the authorities recognized that at the moment the variant already circulates within its territory, so it is difficult to contain, at least 11 days after having arrived in the country.
In addition, at least 14 people arrived infected with the new variant, on flights from Johannesburg and Cape Town to Amsterdam, on November 26, the National Institute of Public Health added.
Previously, the Netherlands had said they found the variant among passengers who came from South Africa on Friday, but the new cases detected predate that report.
Meanwhile, Japan and France reported their first cases of the new variant.
It is not yet known how contagious the Omicron variant is.
The WHO stresses that much information about the new variant is still unknown, including how contagious it could be.
However, the director of the South African National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD), Adrian Puren, noted in an interview with the Reuters news agency that Omicron could surpass Delta in its high level of spread.
“Do we think what will outperform Delta? That has always been the question, at least in terms of transmissibility perhaps this particular variant is,” Puren said.
The expert added that scientists should know in about four weeks to what extent Ómicron can evade the immunity generated by existing vaccines against Covid-19, and whether or not it leads to worse clinical symptoms than other variants.
So far, reports from doctors who have treated South African patients with the variant note that it appears to be producing mild symptoms, such as a dry cough, fever and night sweats.
Likewise, Australia reported that the two cases it detected for the first time this week occurred in people who are vaccinated and who were asymptomatic.
Experts warn that it is still early to draw firm conclusions.
The EMA reports that it would have vaccines against Omicron ready in 3 or 4 months
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) announced that it could approve specifically tailored antidotes against the Omicron variant within three to four months if necessary.
Speaking to the European Parliament, the executive director of the European Medicines Agency (EMA), Emer Cooke, said that it was not known if the drug manufacturers would need to modify their vaccines to protect themselves against the new variant, but that the health agency of the European Union is preparing for that possibility.
“If there is a need to change existing vaccines, we may be in a position to approve them within three to four months (…) Companies that adapt their formulations to include the new sequencing (…) will have to demonstrate that the system production works, then they’ll have to do some clinical trials to determine that this actually works in practice, “Cooke said.
More countries detect Omicron infections
Meanwhile, Japan, which closed its borders preventively, reported on Tuesday that it had registered its first case in the country with the new variant.
Likewise, the French island of Reunion reported its first case of SARS COV-2, also known as B.1.1.529.
The United Kingdom reported 8 more infections and Scotland 9 new cases, for a total of 14 positive diagnoses of the new variant throughout the British territory.
“The 9 cases are related. They all date back to a single private event on November 20,” Scottish Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon said in front of Parliament.
For its part, the European Union confirms so far 42 cases in total in ten countries of the community bloc.
The director of the European Center for Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC), Andrea Ammon, suggested that the figure will increase soon, as the authorities are evaluating suspected cases.
However, Ammon stressed that all the infections of the new variant correspond for now to mild or asymptomatic forms of Covid-19 and that they seem to have affected younger people.
With Reuters, AP and EFE
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