Micron: 4 facts so far about the new variant of the corona virus that is worrying the world

Omigron, The latest SARS-CoV-2 variant has been identified and is highly modified to date, Presents “the greatest danger” to the world, Warned this Monday The World Health Organization (WHO) and stressed that there is more Many are unknown About this variation, especially about the real danger it reflects.

The 4 most revealing facts known so far about the new variant are as follows:

1- Variation spread all over the world

New variation discovered in many countries in recent days, “It will spread worldwide and inevitably reach the United States.” Said the doctor Anthony Fossie, Director National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).

“Obviously, we are more cautious. Sooner or later it will inevitably spread widely It has at least some highly diffuse molecular properties ”. The expert argued on the TV show Good Morning America. He added: “Although there are many things we do not know about this, we will be able to determine them in the coming weeks.”

Until Monday morning165 cases have been reported in 12 countriesA GISAID, Global database for viral gene sequencing. South Africa, Which first detected the discrepancy and reported it WHO, He discovered 114 cases To be continued 19 On Botswana, 12 In Netherlands And 5 On Australia. Even There have been 4 or fewer reported cases in the UK, Belgium, China, Germany, Hong Kong, Israel and Italy.

Sunday, Canada Became Ontario was the first country in North America to detect variance, with 2 confirmed cases. On Monday, Portugal Confident 13 Cases of variation between a football club Lisboa, Including a player who recently traveled to South Africa ABC News.

2- Vaccines seem to be more effective

To Fossil, Though unknown, Those who have been vaccinated seem to be performing better against the new variant than those who have not been vaccinated. And booster dose recipients seem to be even better.

“I strongly recommend that they get a booster now and not wait for the next iteration of the vaccine, which we may not need. Pharmaceutical companies are preparing to produce a specific booster The Variation, But we may not need it, “said David Cook, chief of The Christian Science Monitor’s Washington bureau.

President of the United States Joe Biden He met Fossil And members White House Govt-19 Response Team On Sunday, to discuss the new variant and the WHO’s latest information, it called micron a “worrying variant”.

One of the current questions is whether current vaccines will maintain high protection against the Omigran variant. The WHO “It works to understand with technology partners The potential impact of this variation on existing countermeasures, including vaccines. Vaccines are important in reducing serious illness and mortality, including the dominant virus transmission delta. Current vaccines are effective against serious illness and death.

For such experts Jesse Bloom is the evolutionary biologist at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, USA. Be careful and maybe in a few more weeks the spread rate of the variant and whether a change in vaccines is needed will be known.

Vaccine studies are already being carried out in various public laboratories and in companies that have developed vaccines. Developers of two Govt-19 vaccines, Pfizer-Bioendech and Modern, they are preparing to rearrange their vaccines if needed.

Jim Nicemith, Director Dell Institute Rosalind Franklin And Professor of Structural Biology University of Oxford in the UK, He said that Based on our scientific studies of the various changes in the corona virus spike protein and our understanding of the structural biology of neutralization, we expect that this variant will be less susceptible to immunity. From a vaccine or previous infection, ”Nicemith said.

“The vaccines we have are safe and effectiveAnd they have greatly reduced the number of serious illnesses and deaths, ”Naishmit said. They will continue to be useful up to a point, which is why I urge everyone to wear them. In addition, there are newer drugs that are going to work and are not affected by Omicron changes. Beyond vaccination, ventilation is just as effective as using a synstrap or mask.

Founder and CEO BioentechThe laboratory that developed the vaccine that is distributed by Pfizer, Ukhur Sahin, called be quiet Regarding the origin of the variation OmigronBut insisted Accelerate vaccination and strengthening campaigns against COVID.

“Our message, do not panic, the plan remains the same: speed up the administration of the third booster shotUgur Sahin pointed out in an interview The Wall Street Journal.

“Our belief (vaccines work against omigran) is based on science: If a virus is able to escape immunity, it acts against antibodies, but has a secondary immune response that protects against acute illness: D cells”, Reviewed. “Despite being an escape variant, viral D cells cannot be completely avoided,” Sahin added.

Scientists hope that in 3- 2 weeks the basic information about the new variant will be known.

During the meeting, Said Fossie to Fiden It took “about 2 weeks” to learn more about the variation, The newspaper reported Mountain, Included Details about How it is spread, how serious it is, and how to avoid vaccinations.

For such experts Jesse Bloom is an evolutionary biologist at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, USA. You have to be careful and Maybe in a few weeks More will be known about the spread rate of the variant and whether a change in vaccines is needed.

4-This is the most mutant variant ever known in SARS-CoV-2

Meanwhile, The European Center for Disease Control and Prevention Compared with Delta, the variant had an “immune survival and more contagious benefit,” he said Friday. It has the “highest to highest” risk of spreading in Europe.

“This is the most mutated version of the virus we’ve ever seen It has some changes we have seen before in other genres, but not one in a virus. It also has innovative mutations, ”he stressed. Lawrence Young, Professor of Virology and Molecular Oncology Warwick School of Medicine In a statement in the UK.

In the same way, the director Neil Ferguson, MRC Center for Global Infectious Disease Analysis at Imperial College London, Highlighted thatThe number of mutations in spike protein is “unprecedented.” “The spike protein gene is the target protein of most vaccines. There is concern that this variant may have more potential to escape the previous immune system than the previous variants ”. Warned.

Still There is no specific information about Omicron and vaccines, But the WHO Mentions that Last Follow Being a core part of the toolkit, as opposed to the most common variation of the current, The Delta.

Consulted Infobe, CONICET Researcher Carolina Torres, Who is a part of Country plan, Genetic Surveillance Federation Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation of Argentina, Comment: “For now, There is nothing to suggest that the Omicron variant has a different behavior from other types already known for the vaccine. It can spread just like any other. We do not yet know whether it will spread more or less among those who have already been vaccinated, ”he said.

In the case DiagnosisIn all diagnostic methods, NEOKIT SAS Scientists, Argentine company created by researchers Conice And this Pablo Casara Laboratory, Evaluation of recently published mutations of the new variant and They announced “Neocide diagnostic test It will continue to work against the variability found in South Africa.

“One advantage of the simplified PCR multiplication technology is that by knowing the genetic sequences of the new strains, it is possible to quickly determine if the test is continuing to function as a Covid-19 diagnosis,” the doctor said. Carolina Carrillo, Researcher of Centro Millstein and co-founder of NEOKIT SAS. “This is not possible with antigen tests that require specific evaluations with the new variant, and cannot be done quickly in any laboratory for obvious safety reasons,” he added.

In the coming days and weeks We need to know more about the new variant and get the results of the initial studies Done by WHO And by reputed universities and research institutes. As part of its efforts, the WHO World government health groups are also calling for increased awareness Covit-19 positive cases will use genetic signature testing to ensure that cases are properly documented. This data, collected over time, They help everyone to recognize the symptoms and severity of Omigran compared to other types.

Continue reading: