What is Omicron

The SARS-CoV-2 COVID-19 pandemic brought the world to a standstill when it first spread across the globe at the beginning of 2020. Amidst lockdowns and strict travel restrictions, the virus kept on mutating as it spread among more people. When finally it seemed like the worst was behind us (thanks to an extensive vaccination scheme), we got the news that there’s a new strain doing the rounds! Omicron strain is the latest mutation, first identified by scientists in South Africa.

Read on to know more about the new strain of COVID-19 and how you can protect yourself from it.

All about the Omicron strain

Scientists in South Africa reported the development of a new strain of the COVID-19 virus, called the B.1.1.529 on November 24th, 2021. The World Health Organisation (WHO) named it Omicron, following the tradition of using Greek nomenclature to denote the strains of the virus. The strains before the Omicron were named alpha, beta, gamma, Delta variant and so on. The new variant (Omicron) has been named while skipping the two letters in the Greek alphabet ‘Nu’ and ‘Xi’. [1]

When we talk about the origin story of the variant, experts from South Africa notified on 2nd December 2021 that the origin of Omicron was unknown. On the other hand, as per theories released by Livescience, the Omicron variant was believed to have possibly evolved in rodents. Whichever statement might be true, it can be said that not much is known about the Omicron variant and further studies are underway. But with the spread of the Omicron variant, researchers also shared thoughts of the COVID-19 virus becoming endemic.

The health implications of the Omicron strain are still being tested by scientists around the world, however, the number of positive COVID-19 tests in South Africa indicate that this new strain is potentially fast-spreading because the Omicron strain has a high number of mutations in the ‘spike protein’ associated with COVID-19. [2]

It is important to maintain safety protocols as the virus is already seeing a spread in India and other nations like Israel, the United Kingdom, the US, Belgium, Botswana, Canada and Hong Kong. The WHO considers this as a Variant of Concern (VOC) for now, and many countries gearing up to issue travel bans as a response to stop its spread.

How does Omicron affect us?

By now, you might be feeling quite gloomy after knowing that cases of Omicron have been confirmed in India. You might also be wondering how this new strain affects you and the health implications it has. There are a lot of assumptions like getting affected by the Omicron strain is more likely for people who have already been affected by COVID-19 before, Currently, only mild infections have been noticed among individuals affected by this strain and so on.

Whether the Omicron strain can trigger severe symptoms and effects will be confirmed only after further testing. There are concerns about the Omicron strain having the ability to evade the immune system and cause breakthrough vaccine infections (infection after getting vaccinated). For now, reinfection of individuals remains the biggest risk posed by this virus (till further studies suggest otherwise). [3 ]

How is Omicron different from the Delta variant?

The delta variant of COVID-19 was discovered first in India and was responsible for the 2nd wave of the pandemic in the country. According to current studies, the Omicron variant has many more mutations in its spike protein than the delta variant. It is assumed that this variant can be is more transmissible than the delta variant, which can be a cause for concern.

The delta variant of the virus is responsible for heavy infections and mortality. The delta variant of the virus is a lethal variant and current reports are yet to confirm the severity of illness caused by the Omicron variant. The reinfection rate and the transmissibility rate is predicted to be much higher in the Omicron variant. But, more studies and data are needed for a better understanding of this variant.

Symptoms of the Omicron variant

There have been no reports on any unusual symptoms noticed in people affected by the omicron variant of COVID-19 so far. Thus, the current scenario suggests that symptoms of the Omicron variant can be the same as what was being noticed in the earlier strains of the virus. Some of the most common symptoms of COVID-19 include – fever, weakness, loss of smell, shortness of breath, chest pain and loss of taste, sore throat, cough, stomach ache, diarrhoea. We are yet to receive confirmatory data on the severity and symptoms of the new COVID variant- Omicron. [4]

Which tests can detect the Omicron strain?

The SARS-CoV-2 RT- PCR diagnostic test can detect the new strain of the virus. Studies are going on to understand the effectiveness of other tests in the detection of the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2. Samples of suspected people reported positive by RT-PCR test are sent for genome sequencing for confirmation of the Variant type.

What Are the Precautions for Omicron Virus?

The best way to stay safe currently is by following all WHO and Government-mandated safety measures for Omicron –

Get vaccinated if you haven’t
Maintain physical distancing,
Limit your travel outside as much as possible and avoid crowding at all costs.
Wear a mask when stepping out or meeting any outsider
Follow hand hygiene and respiratory etiquettes
Do not ignore any signs of illness (fever, weakness, sore throat) and consult your doctor immediately

Surveillance for the new strain has been increased in all countries including India to monitor the spread of the new variant. Many nations have started imposing travel restrictions as precautions for Omicron and you shouldn’t travel to nations where the Omicron strain is spreading rapidly. Cancel travel plans (if not urgent) as safety is of vital importance. Read about the travel guidelines if you or your dear ones are planning to travel and make sure it is followed well to avoid any trouble while traveling.[5]

Conclusion

The Omicron variant is spreading rapidly but on a positive note, assumptions are deeming the virus to be less deadly than the delta variant. People who have been affected by COVID-19 or those with other comorbidities need to stay extra cautious as the rate of reinfection is thought to be high in this new variant.