Omicron coronavirus variant poses 'very high' global risk, WHO warns

[riversedge]

Source: Seattletimes.com




Nov. 29, 2021 at 5:24 am Updated Nov. 29, 2021 at 6:01 am


The World Health Organization is warning countries that the omicron coronavirus variant poses “very high” global risk – and is likely to spread internationally.

“The likelihood of potential further spread of Omicron at the global level is high,” the WHO said Sunday in a preliminary technical brief. It recommended that governments worldwide enhance their ability to sequence coronavirus variants, report any local cases of omicron to the global health body and speed up their vaccination drives.

The newly identified omicron variant has 26 to 32 spike mutations, the WHO brief states, “some of which are concerning” in that they could make it more transmissible and better able to evade the body’s immune defenses.

“Depending on these characteristics, there could be future surges of COVID-19, which could have severe consequences, depending on a number of factors including where surges may take place,” the report says. “The overall global risk related to [omicron] is assessed as very high.” It added that “evidence for this assessment contains considerable uncertainty” and is subject to change.................................

Read more: https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/omicron-coronavirus-variant-poses-very-high-global-risk-who-warns/

[Evolve Dammit]

1. Maybe half the global population will die and there will be a chance for continued life and the

earth can recover. Or not. We're in the petri dish, that is certain. "Good Night and Good Luck." RIP Edward R. Murrow. And all that have fallen to this virus.

[Delphinus]

2. I've read many

stories today that say this variant causes only mild cases in people. Not saying it's a good thing there is high global risk, but it may not be as dangerous.

[Tree Lady]

6. Seems like a lot of mixed messages

Which means we don't know what to believe, all I know is keep being safe as much as I can.

[GB_RN]

12. The Stories I've Read With Those Messages...

All seem to indicate that those are all young and/or pediatric patients. The original wild strain, Alpha and Delta variants also produced mainly (but not always) mild/asymptomatic cases in that population group. Also, with these stories being anecdotal, and not statistical, I'm not holding my breath that the data hold up as being the case amongst all age groups/populations. Especially seeing as the transmissibility already seems to be fairly high, like Delta.

[OneCrazyDiamond]

3. I like the President's take on it.

The Media loves us to panic.

[Initech]

9. It's nice to have sane, rational people back in the White House isn't it?

[OneCrazyDiamond]

10. Nice is too tame.

Blessing.

[ananda]

5. It looks as though it's evolving towards something like the common cold.

Less dangerous but highly transmissable.

[NickB79]

7. If it's half as lethal as Delta, but twice as transmissible, it will kill just the same

It's really too early to say if it will cause another big jump in deaths like Delta did. Even without breakthrough reinfections of the immunized or previously infected, there are huge populations of vulnerable hosts still out there.

[LisaL]

8. Exactly.

Even if it's mild in most people, if it's much more infectious, it could still sicken and kill a large number of people vulnerable to it.

[SKKY]

11. A question about virus mutation....

Just as a virus can gain in strength as it mutates, isn't it also possible a virus can weaken with each mutation? Everything I've read says Omicron, while more transmissible, is much weaker than Delta.

[LisaL]

13. But vaccines still work on Delta.

If vaccines don't work on Omicron, even if it's weaker, it might result in increases in hospitalizations and deaths. Current monoclonal antibody treatments are likely won't work well on it either (since it's so mutated)