WHO declares B.1.1.529 as “regarding variant” and names “micron” | the health

Originally discovered in South Africa, Omicron is a concern because it contains 50 mutations, with more than 30 in the “spike” protein (the “key” the virus uses to enter cells that is the target of most vaccines against Covid-19).

It is not yet known whether it is more transmissible or more lethal: The World Health Organization itself says it will take weeks to better understand the behavior of the variable.

At least 9 countries and/or territories have announced restrictions on flights from African countries due to B.1.1,529 so far.

The B.1.1529 variant was first reported to the World Health Organization on November 24, 2021 by South Africa. The epidemiological situation in the country was marked by three peaks of reported cases, the last one with a delta variant.

In recent weeks, coronavirus infections have increased dramatically, coinciding with the discovery of the new variant B.1.1529. The first confirmed case of B.1.1529 was from a sample collected on November 9, 2021.

According to the World Health Organization, the variant contains a “large number of mutations,” some of which are of concern.

“Initial evidence suggests a higher risk of reinfection with this type of virus compared to other versions of the coronavirus. The number of B.1.1.529 cases appears to be increasing in most districts in South Africa,” says the World Health Organization.

• Mutation, variant, strain, and lineage: Understanding what the terms associated with the evolution of the coronavirus mean

Classification of variables

The World Health Organization classifies variants of the novel coronavirus into 3 categories: VOCs (the variant of concern), VOI (the variant of interest) and VUM (the variant under control). are they:

• You are (variants of concern): alpha (first detected in the UK), beta (discovered in South Africa), gamma (in Brazil it is also known as P.1), delta (in India) and omicron (detected in Also discovered in South Africa);
• butter (significant variants): lambda (first discovered in Peru) and mu (in Colombia);
• subordinate (Variants under control): 7 strains not named after letters of the Greek alphabet

Virologist Tulio de Oliveira, director of the South African Center for Epidemic Response and Innovation, who announced the discovery of the new variant on Thursday (25), says B.1.1.529 carries an “extraordinary constellation of mutations” and is also “very different” from species. other that were present.

“This variant has surprised us, it has taken a huge leap in development [e traz] “A lot more mutations than we expected,” says Oliveira, who is Brazilian. But it is too early to say how transmissible or dangerous this alternative is — and its impact on vaccines has already been developed.

The Túlio de Oliveira Research Institute is affiliated with the University of Kwazulu-Natal and was responsible for the discovery of the beta variant, one of the four volatile organic compounds.