The Omicron coronavirus strain could be detected in dozens of Dutch citizens returning from South Africa, the Netherlands’ National Institute of Health (RIVM) reported on November 27.
According to the department, against the background of the spread of the new mutation COVID-19, the authorities decided to test two passenger flights arriving from Africa.
It is noted that 61 out of 624 such passengers tested positive for coronavirus. Presumably, it was the Omicron variant that was identified among the travelers. They are all currently isolated.
Samples of all tests were sent for further analysis to the institute. The ministry stressed that the final conclusions will be made based on the results of further research.
The day before, the Netherlands decided to suspend flights with the countries of South Africa due to the detection of a new strain of coronavirus in the region.
On November 27, two cases of a new strain of coronavirus were detected in the UK. It also became known that Omicron was found in a Czech woman who had returned from Egypt. In addition, a new variant of the coronavirus has been identified in Belgium and Italy. Experts in Austria and the Netherlands are testing for the presence of this mutation in their citizens who have returned from Africa.
At the same time, no cases of the Omicron strain have yet been identified in Russia.
Also on Saturday, Italian scientists from the Bambino Gesù Hospital (“Baby Jesus”) showed an image of the protein of the new Omicron strain and compared it with the Delta variant. According to the researchers, in “Delta” there were 18 mutated amino acid residues, while in the “Omicron” variant there are 43 of them.
On the same day, it was reported that the Republic of South Africa will provide samples of the new COVID-19 strain “Omicron” to biosafety agencies of other states.
On November 26, the World Health Organization (WHO) designated the B.1.1.529 strain found in southern Africa with the Greek letter Omicron. The WHO statement also reported that this variant of the coronavirus has a large number of mutations.
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