Variations of anxiety: Omicron reduces the risk of serious illness or death by 50% to 60%

The European Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC) has reported that the risk of contracting a serious illness or dying from Covit-19 is 50% to 60% lower if the infection is caused by an anxiety variant of Ómicron.

The latest VdP, listed by the World Health Organization (WHO), “It is estimated at 64% in 27 EU countries And three that make up the European economic zone (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway).

“It simply came to our notice then The risk of hospitalization with Ómicron is low Than VdP Delta. However, natural immunizations, vaccines including boosters and better treatment options contribute to less severe side effects. The intrinsic risk of serious infection is difficult to understand Ómicron “, warns ECDC Recent Epidemiological Report Weekly.

Nevertheless, the European Monitoring Service (TESSy) reported that in VdP Ómicron cases, “about 1.14% had to be hospitalized, 0.16% had to go to intensive care and 0.06% died”.

“Some previous studies have shown that current vaccines lose some of their effectiveness against Omigran infection, but Vaccines provide even more protection Against hospitalization and serious illness “, the ECDC promises.

However, the European Center warns that “given the rapid growth benefit of Ómicron and the greater the number of cases, the potential benefits of lower severity may outweigh the greater number of serious effects over time”.

New Generation BA 2

However, in Portugal, a new strain of Ómicron (BA.1) was discovered, defined by the BA.2 code and already recognized in other countries, such as Denmark or the United Kingdom, and the original version entered faster in December. .

This new strain is high in mutations of S protein (“spike”) such as BA.1.

Dr. Ricardo Jorge of the National Institutes of Health (INSA) asked Unilabs Laboratory for research focusing on BA.2 mutations.

“These preliminary estimates revealed mutual profiles compatible with the BA.2 lineage, suggesting that the rate of SGTF positive samples was low. [“S gene target failure”] The increase in the circulation of this lineage in Portugal may be at least partially due to, ”the INSA report said, waiting for data on the evolution and spread of this lineage across the country.

The flow of infections

The WHO noted that in the seven-day period ending on Sunday (January 9), the epidemic worsened by 55%, equivalent to 15 million cases, with the worst balance of infections in a single week until then.

Data from the United States However, the seven-day daily average number of cases dropped from more than 40,000 on January 9 to less than 28,000 on January 9. January 16 In New York City. Other northeastern states are showing a similar trend.

Most people around the world have not been hospitalized with Govt-19 disease, the WHO’s Director General stressed a week ago, warning of the urgent need to stop the circulation of this last VdP, thus preventing the evolution of another strain of vaccines to be more resistant, more susceptible to infection and more likely to develop severe Govt-19. High risk.

Since being identified in South Africa in late November, the latest VdP has spread rapidly Affects at least 150 countriesS, including 30 that make up the European Economic Area, 27 of the European Union and Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

The United Kingdom is the worst hit country by Ómicron, with more than 245,000 cases and 75 deaths reported, and it is one of several countries already dominated by the VdP, including Portugal.

“Omigron represents a new crossroads that all nations will face after the delta eruption until the end of 2021. More than 50% of the European population will be affected by Ómicron in the next six or eight weeks,” Hans predicted. Cluj, from the European section of the WHO.

The vast majority of those admitted to intensive care in EU countries are unvaccinated, which also proves that vaccines approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) can be effective against Ómicron in preventing serious illness and death.

Considering the low severity, the duration of the infection was reduced to five to seven days, which has already led many countries to review isolated periods for “govt patients”, including Portugal.

Despite the frequent running of new daily records of infections, Ómicron has had no repercussions on worsening hospital admissions, which is the most appropriate criterion for assessing the level of threat of infection.

Many of those affected by this new variation have changed AsymptomaticThese Key symptoms Developed by Ómicron and should be taken into account:

A small proportion of patients diagnosed with Ómicron disease in South Africa had a high fever, recurrent cough, and loss of taste or smell. The most severe symptoms are mainly seen People who have not been vaccinated Against Govt-19.

Discovery

A variant named P.1.1.529 Discovered by a Portuguese researcher Rahul Vienna On November 19, from a sample taken ten days ago, the World Health Organization was informed (WHO) On November 24, there is a month for Christmas.

This is two days later. “Anxiety variation”(VdP) was the main observed rapid spread and dozens of mutations were detected. This list has been renamed as Integration Omigron.

Team Technical advice for the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 virus (TAG-VE, Anglophone acronym), the WHO is integrating a network of reference laboratories to study Covit-19 and is actively researching new variants, including continuous detection of mutations including S protein or “Spikes”(Spike), cells responsible for infection.

The WHO has called on various countries and citizens to share data on hospital-admitted “govt patients” to expedite their knowledge of Ómicron. Basic measures to control infection:

• Social space of at least one meter;

• Use of approved masks;

• Regular ventilation of closed spaces;

• Avoid crowded places;

• Wash your hands regularly;

• Cough or sneeze while protecting yourself with your elbow or tissues;

• Vaccinate as soon as possible.

Preliminary data suggest that there is a higher risk of a restart compared to VdP Previously, but no clear decision has yet been made on this threat. Vaccines will continue to be effective and PCR tests will detect micron.

It is not clear that the new variant causes more severe diseases than previous diseases, including delta. Preliminary data only show an increase in hospital admissions, especially in South Africa.

A new variant in the study

Meanwhile, a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 has been identified in Cyprus that combines the last two VdPs, Delta and Ómicron.

Informally, this new strain was called “Deltacron” and is being analyzed, with the first data on this supposed variation expected to come out next week.

“We will assess whether this strain is very pathological or contagious and has the strength to overcome it. [perante as variantes anteriores]”, Leondios Gostrikis, professor of biological sciences at the University of Cyprus, explained in an interview with Sigma TV.

The so-called “deltacron” was found in at least 25 active cases in Cyprus, which “shows the genetic signature of Ómicron with the genes of the delta.” Currently Ómicron and Delta have dual infections. We found a combination of the two, “said Kostrikis.

Preliminary studies have shown that the comparative frequency of combined infection is higher among patients admitted to the hospital with Covid-19 than to non-hospitalized Covid patients. The collected data is already shared with the GISAID system, an international database that monitors the evolution of the virus and the study will continue.

At the moment, this is a variant that the WHO still does not care about.

Two years of SARS-CoV-2

We have been living around the world for about two years with the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes Govt-19. This time, this is the last family member Corona virus It has affected more than 306 million people and killed at least 5.5 million lives across the planet powered by at least five VdPs.

In each infected organism, copies are created and transmitted, allowing the virus to modify and evolve compared to the original nature of the infection.

At the very least, as of September 2020, there are five types of concerns for WHO experts as to the potential for greater resistance or the more severe form of Govt-19.

But what are the variants of the Govit-19 virus?

Viruses, in general, begin by infecting a host, from where they copy, i.e. they make their own copies.

Most viruses are created RNA, A genetic material, for example, is more unstable than DNA. This trait changes over time, slightly altering the respective genetic sequence.

The changes that occur in this sequence are called genetic changes. Called mutation viruses Strains or variations.

Some mutations may not change the characteristics of the virus, while others may harm the virus itself, but allow some “selective advantage” to make the virus more “friendly” to the host and harmless. .

In the case of the virus that causes SARS-CoV-2, Govt-19, the WHO classifies them as “variants of anxiety” (VdP), which can cause or easily spread serious infections. These strains or variations are placed under intensive monitoring.

Learn about current “anxiety variants” for SARs-CoV-2: