0.28 CME

Omicron: The Rising Threat

Speaker: Dr. Jagdeesh Kumar V

Alumni- Shadan Institute of Medical Sciences MBBS, DNB - General Medicine Consultant Physician

Description

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared Omicron to be a COVID-19 variant of concern based on preliminary evidence that it spreads quickly. Omicron was first reported in South Africa on 24 November 2021 and is quickly becoming the dominant variant there.

A variant of concern is one that may change how the pandemic behaves, so the WHO pays close attention to it.

Summary

The current panic surrounding Omicron is fueled by news channels and social media. Experts emphasize the need for scientific and logical exploration of the virus's characteristics, including its potential dangers. Information is readily available, but understanding how to interpret and analyze it is critical.
Omicron, identified in South Africa but not necessarily originating there, is being tracked by scientific committees like jide next train and Pango. While travel bans were initially implemented, their effectiveness and impact on vaccine availability and genomic sequencing resources are debated. The first confirmed case of Omicron was collected on November 9th, 2021, and reported to the WHO on November 24th, 2021.
Omicron is classified as a "variant of concern" due to its predicted and demonstrated impact on transmissibility, disease severity, and immune escape. Its R value suggests that Omicron can infect three to six times as many people as Delta over the same period. Scientists are working to understand the effects of mutations and its ability to evade vaccines.
While mutations are common, the key questions are whether they cause significant changes in the disease process or virus characteristics. The difference between "variant of interest" and "variant of concern" is similar to that of theory and practice. The demonstrated changes in transmissibility, severity, therapeutic, and diagnostic escape, or immunological escape are used to classify Omicron as a "variant of concern."
Basic preventative measures such as wearing masks, practicing hygiene, and physical distancing remain crucial regardless of variant or vaccination status. Governments should improve surveillance and genomic sequencing, submitting data to publicly available databases for collective global efforts. The efficacy of antiviral pills needs further study. Corticosteroids and IL-6 receptor blockers remain important treatment options.
The mutation of antibody binding sites raises concerns about immune escape and the effectiveness of antibody cocktails. Transmissibility is now confirmed to be higher than Delta. There are at least 32 mutations in the spike protein and 10 in the receptor binding domain. The surge in positive cases is particularly noticeable among younger people.
It will take more time to understand the severity of Omicron. The symptoms are not substantially different from other variants and are generally milder. Current tests, like RTPCR, remain effective in detecting Omicron infections. Genomic sequencing is a laboratory process initiated by hospitals or government entities based on unusual cases, not a patient-driven request.
Vaccines have proven effective against previous variants and are expected to offer some protection against Omicron. Booster shots are now being highly debated, with studies suggesting they provide significant protection against severe outcomes compared to only two doses. While early reports linked Omicron to mild disease, caution is needed, and more data is required.