The Omicron variant spreads throughout Europe. “To date, 33 confirmed cases” of the South African variant “have been reported in 8 EU countries: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal” writes the ECDC, the European Control Center of diseases.
“All confirmed cases have a history of travel to African countries with flights that have made a stopover in other destinations between Africa and Europe. All cases for which information regarding severity is available were asymptomatic or mild. So far, no serious cases have been reported and there has been no death. “” Other cases have been reported in seven countries and territories outside the EU: Australia, Botswana, Canada, Hong Kong, Israel, South Africa and the United Kingdom. “the Ecdc experts conclude.
WHO
“There have been no reported deaths attributable to the Omicron variant at this time.” This is what the World Health Organization (WHO) makes known, underlining at the same time that the new variant poses a ” very high ” risk globally, although it remains to be determined how dangerous and contagious it is. ” If a new major wave of Covid-19 were to occur due to Omicron, the consequences could be serious ”, reads a technical note released by WHO. “There have been no reported deaths attributable to the Omicron variant at this time,” he added. On Friday, the WHO defined variant B.1.1.529 of Covid-19 as an object of concern.
The infections reported initially, notes the WHO, “they were among college students, younger individuals who tend to have milder disease, but understanding the severity level of the Omicron variant will take days to several weeks. All variants of Covid-19, including the Delta variant which is dominant around the world, can cause serious illness or death, particularly for the most vulnerable, and therefore prevention is always paramount. “
THE ZERO PATIENT IN ITALY
They are also positive for the Omicron variant the wife and two children of the Italian ‘patient zero’. The sequencing of the swabs carried out on the direct contacts of the man, coming from southern Africa, was completed this morning at the Cotugno hospital in Naples. The 4 patients have no relevant symptoms confirming the action produced by the vaccine. The rapid sequencing was possible thanks to tools with Ngs technology, which the Cotugno laboratory is equipped with, which allow the processing and evaluation of the viral genome in its entirety within 24 hours.
The ‘patient zero’, 55 years old from Caserta, is vaccinated with 2 doses. Manager of Eni, he is in solitary confinement in his home in Caserta and is constantly monitored by doctors and the health authority.
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