Update on Omicron
On
26 November 2021, WHO designated the variant B.1.1.529 a variant of
concern, named Omicron, on the advice of WHO’s Technical
Advisory Group on Virus Evolution (TAG-VE).
On 26 November 2021, WHO designated the variant
B.1.1.529 a variant of concern, named Omicron, on the advice
of WHO’s Technical
Advisory Group on Virus Evolution (TAG-VE). This
decision was based on the evidence presented to the TAG-VE
that Omicron has several mutations that may have an impact on how it
behaves, for example, on how easily it spreads or the severity of illness
it causes. Here is a summary of what is currently known.
Current knowledge about Omicron
Researchers in South Africa and around the world are
conducting studies to better understand many aspects of Omicron and will
continue to share the findings of these studies as they become
available.
Transmissibility: It is not yet clear whether Omicron is
more transmissible (e.g., more easily spread from person to person) compared to
other variants, including Delta. The number of people testing positive has
risen in areas of South Africa affected by this variant, but epidemiologic
studies are underway to understand if it is because of Omicron or other
factors.
Severity of disease: It is not yet clear whether
infection with Omicron causes more severe disease compared to infections
with other variants, including Delta. Preliminary data suggests that
there are increasing rates of hospitalization in South Africa, but this may be
due to increasing overall numbers of people becoming infected, rather than a result
of specific infection with Omicron. There is currently no
information to suggest that symptoms associated with Omicron are different from
those from other variants. Initial reported infections were among
university students—younger individuals who tend to have more mild disease—but
understanding the level of severity of the Omicron variant will take days to
several weeks. All variants of COVID-19, including the Delta variant
that is dominant worldwide, can cause severe disease or death, in particular
for the most vulnerable people, and thus prevention is always key.
Effectiveness of prior SARS-CoV-2 infection
Preliminary evidence suggests there may be an increased risk
of reinfection with Omicron (ie, people who have previously had COVID-19 could
become reinfected more easily with Omicron), as compared to other variants of
concern, but information is limited. More information on this will become
available in the coming days and weeks.
Effectiveness of vaccines: WHO is working with technical partners
to understand the potential impact of this variant on our existing
countermeasures, including vaccines. Vaccines remain critical to reducing
severe disease and death, including against the dominant circulating variant,
Delta. Current vaccines remain effective against severe disease and
death.
Effectiveness of current tests: The widely used PCR
tests continue to detect infection, including infection with Omicron, as we
have seen with other variants as well. Studies are ongoing to determine whether
there is any impact on other types of tests, including rapid antigen detection
tests.
Effectiveness of current treatments:
Corticosteroids and IL6 Receptor Blockers will still be effective for managing
patients with severe COVID-19. Other treatments will be assessed to see if they
are still as effective given the changes to parts of the virus in the Omicron
variant.
Studies underway
At the present time, WHO is coordinating with a large number
of researchers around the world to better understand Omicron. Studies currently
underway or underway shortly include assessments of transmissibility, severity
of infection (including symptoms), performance of vaccines and diagnostic
tests, and effectiveness of treatments.
WHO encourages countries to contribute the collection and
sharing of hospitalized patient data through the WHO COVID-19
Clinical Data Platform to rapidly describe clinical
characteristics and patient outcomes.
More information will emerge in the coming days and weeks.
WHO’s TAG-VE will continue to monitor and evaluate the data as it becomes
available and assess how mutations in Omicron alter the behaviour of the
virus.
Recommended actions for countries
As Omicron has been designated a Variant of Concern, there
are several actions WHO recommends countries to undertake, including enhancing
surveillance and sequencing of cases; sharing genome sequences on
publicly available databases, such as GISAID; reporting initial cases or
clusters to WHO; performing field investigations and laboratory assessments to
better understand if Omicron has different transmission or disease
characteristics, or impacts effectiveness of vaccines, therapeutics,
diagnostics or public health and social measures. More detail
in the announcement from
26 November.
Countries should continue to implement the effective public
health measures to reduce COVID-19 circulation overall, using a risk analysis
and science-based approach. They should increase some public health and
medical capacities to manage an increase in cases. WHO is providing
countries with support and guidance for both readiness and
response.
In addition, it is vitally important that inequities in
access to COVID-19 vaccines are urgently addressed to ensure that vulnerable
groups everywhere, including health workers and older persons, receive their
first and second doses, alongside equitable access to treatment and
diagnostics.
Recommended actions for people
The most effective steps individuals can take to reduce the
spread of the COVID-19 virus is to keep a physical distance of at least 1 metre
from others; wear a well-fitting mask; open windows to improve ventilation;
avoid poorly ventilated or crowded spaces; keep hands clean; cough or sneeze
into a bent elbow or tissue; and get vaccinated when it’s their turn.
WHO will continue to provide updates as more information
becomes available, including following meetings of the TAG-VE. In addition,
information will be available on WHO’s digital and social media platforms.
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