WHO: Omicron spreading faster than Delta | Inquirer News
STILL ‘UNWISE’ TO CONCLUDE THAT NEW VARIANT IS MILDER

WHO: Omicron spreading faster than Delta

/ 05:20 AM December 22, 2021

World Health Organization (WHO) Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus speaks during a bilateral meeting with Swiss Interior and Health Minister Alain Berset on the sidelines of the opening of the 74th World Health Assembly at the WHO headquarters, in Geneva, Switzerland May 24, 2021. Laurent Gillieron/Pool via REUTERS

FILE PHOTO: World Health Organization (WHO) Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. REUTERS

GENEVA—The Omicron variant of the novel coronavirus is spreading faster than the Delta variant and is causing infections in people already vaccinated or who have recovered from COVID-19, officials of the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday.

“There is now consistent evidence that Omicron is spreading significantly faster than the Delta variant,” WHO director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a press briefing.

Article continues after this advertisement

He added that “it is more likely people vaccinated or recovered from COVID-19 could be infected or reinfected.”

FEATURED STORIES

Tedros also said holiday festivities could lead to “increased cases, overwhelmed health systems and more deaths,” as he urged people to postpone gatherings.

“An event canceled is better than a life canceled,” he said.

Article continues after this advertisement

WHO chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan said it would be “unwise” to conclude from early evidence that Omicron was a milder variant than previous ones.

Article continues after this advertisement

The variant is successfully evading some immune responses, she said—which means that booster programs being rolled out in many countries should cover people with weaker immune systems.

Article continues after this advertisement

She warned that “with the numbers going up, all health systems are going to be under strain.”

Other forms of vaccination

These comments echoed the finding of a study last week by Imperial College London which said the risk of reinfection was more than five times higher and that the variant has shown no sign of being milder than Delta.

Article continues after this advertisement

But WHO officials also said other forms of vaccinations may prevent infection and disease.

“Although we are seeing a reduction in the neutralization antibodies, almost all preliminary analysis show T-cell mediated immunity remains intact,” WHO expert Abdi Mahamud said.

T-cells—the second pillar of an immune response—can prevent severe disease by attacking infected human cells.

Swaminathan, however, noted that “Of course, there is a challenge—many of the monoclonals will not work with Omicron.”

She was referring to treatments that mimic natural antibodies in fighting off infections, which some drugmakers have also suggested.

Her remarks serve to highlight how little is known about the new variant, which was only detected last month.

Hope

But the WHO team also offered some hope, as it pointed toward the development of second and third generation vaccines, and of antimicrobial treatments and other innovations.

“If we can keep virus transmission to a minimum, then we can bring the pandemic to an end,” Mike Ryan, the WHO’s top emergency expert, told the briefing.

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

“[We] hope to consign this…to a relatively mild disease that is easily prevented, that is easily treated,” he said.

For more news about the novel coronavirus click here.
What you need to know about Coronavirus.
For more information on COVID-19, call the DOH Hotline: (02) 86517800 local 1149/1150.

The Inquirer Foundation supports our healthcare frontliners and is still accepting cash donations to be deposited at Banco de Oro (BDO) current account #007960018860 or donate through PayMaya using this link.

TAGS: COVID-19, Delta, Omicron, spread, WHO

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our newsletter!

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

© Copyright 1997-2024 INQUIRER.net | All Rights Reserved

This is an information message

We use cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more here.