Virologist Streeck puts hope in “sweet spot mutation”

The new Corona variant Omikron is currently causing many experts a headache. Virologist Hendrik Streeck is now hoping for the so-called sweetspot mutation.

Berlin – The corona virus has been stirring up everyday life in Germany and the world for almost two years, experts have been warning for weeks about the current corona winter and many overcrowded intensive care units. Experts are also worried about the newly discovered Omikron corona variant. If the virologist Hendrik Streeck has his way, however, the mutation could develop into a sweet spot mutation.

Shortly after the Omikron discovery: Virologist Streeck puts hope in “sweet spot mutation”

How dangerous the new Corona variant Omikron actually is is not yet clear. It also remains unclear whether current vaccines also protect against the new mutation to the same extent. The symptoms currently seem to be partially different from a normal corona infection, one expert observed one noticeable symptom in particular.

Virologist Hendrik Streeck now explains in an interview with ntvthat previous data from South Africa and Sweden would show that the Omikron variant carries so-called escape mutations. The variant is therefore apparently more difficult to recognize by the immune system of vaccinated and recovered people. But the mutation is recognized by the immune system, for example, through a booster vaccination, the immune system can continue to take good action against the omicron variant.

Will the omicron variant become a so-called sweetspot mutation?

As Streeck further explains in the conversation, data from the United States would show that the virus could be a little downgraded in severity. “You have to be careful with that at the moment. Because you still need the data from real life. But if it turns out like that, it is indeed a sweet spot mutation ”. Although there are more infections, these would result in milder symptoms.

For the Christmas season, the virologist advises everyone to limit their contacts as much as possible. It is not important to push the numbers to a summer level, but the health system must be protected from overload.