Micron: Characteristics of the coronavirus variant – Health

The omicron variant, first identified last month in South Africa, accompanied the rapid increase in reported cases of covid-19 that essentially slipped into the fourth pandemic wave, especially in the European continent.

(You can read: Micron has already reached 110 countries and is expanding at an astonishing rate)

The truth is that the identification of this new strain has caused concern due to the large number of mutations present throughout its genome. In particular, some of them are related to the extension immune escape (Bypassing defenses you already have against other variants) and faster hit speed due to differences in peak protein.

The scientific world is rapidly studying the phenotypic behavior of this new expression of SARS-CoV-2, primarily the clinical severity of the infection it causes. This will be the defining factor of its impact in a world that is beginning to turn the page on this epidemic.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director of the World Health Organization (WHO), has prompted Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus to say, “It is better to cancel now and celebrate later than to celebrate now and mourn later,” in an explicit invitation For governments to strengthen the measures and implement the necessary restrictions to prevent hospital collapse and fatal outcomes, particularly in places where vaccination is limited.

(Also: This is the omicron profile: more contagious, but less dangerous).

This is without neglecting the fact that the director of the World Health Organization himself emphasized that “it is likely that people who have been vaccinated or recovered from Covid-19 can be infected again”, which raised alarms early and caused a reaction from the ban on all continents accompanied Redefining vaccination plans. Now, you have to apply booster potions and even skip in applying fourth doses as measures of salvation.

However, despite the fact that some voices have stated that an omicron can also be More good in terms of sickness and deathSoumaya Swaminathan, chief scientist at the World Health Organization, went on to say that it was unwise to conclude from the first studies that Omicron is a milder alternative than previous studies because with infection dynamics, all health systems would be under stress.

And the world is not without reason, because this ratio, in less than three weeks, has established itself as one of the most infectious viruses in modern history, to the point that it has been compared to measles, because it is already equal to the basic reproduction number (R0) (the number of people infected by an infected person ), which ranges from 12 to 18, allowing us to conclude that within a few weeks it could cause even the most powerful hospital systems to collapse.

“The low number of deaths per omicron should not be misleading, because if there were already deaths when the numbers ten days ago were undetectable, then the omicron should be respected,” said WHO spokesmen.

(You can read: Hospitalization is reduced by up to 45% in patients with Omicron.)

Colombia and the variable

Three cases of omicron detected on the Colombian coast a few days ago, according to health worker Pedro Leon Cifuentes, are the initial stake of a process that could unleash a very sharp and short-lived peak of cases before mid-January. That is if controls are not tightened to stop its expansion. In this sense, Franklin Prieto, director in charge of the National Institutes of Health (INS), says there are two scenarios for omicron: two for the United States, Europe, Latin America and South Africa.

In the former, according to Britto, there is less exposure to the virus and less natural infection due to the application of extreme non-pharmacological measures, particularly quarantine, a higher number of vaccinations in a period of more than six months and a mattress than a permanent non-vaccine.

In the second scenario, which is Colombia, there is a file Increased contact with the virus, fewer vaccinations and newer vaccinations, which determine hybrid immunity (natural and immunized) in a large proportion of the population could play a critical role against omicron, to which boosters are applied early.

“There is uncertainty. However, it must be taken into account that the delta reached the country like the rest of the world, but its impact was not severe, so the arrival of the omicron is expected to have a low impact due to the fact that the delta has dominated recently,” Prieto says.

Cifuentes is clear in saying that the country is not specifically protected from omicron. Hence, it is necessary to act quickly, and in this sense, Carlos Alvarez, coordinator of the Covid studies to Colombia delegate to the World Health Organization, explains that the effect of this Omicron variable, or any other variable, depends on the number of people exposed to infection when it begins to rotate in an important way. For this reason, it is essential to take advantage of these 3-4 weeks to vaccinate them.

But besides this, Gabriel Riveros, the former Minister of Health, stressed that the recommendations of the World Health Organization should not be canceled in the face of restrictions that may be necessary in the coming days in the framework of the end-of-year celebrations.

(Read also: stimulant doses can prolong the epidemic: WHO)

“If an omicron starts to emerge, there will be no reason not to make decisions that would limit even some of the events in dangerous places,” says the former minister.

According to the statements of the Director of the World Health Organization, Minister of Health, Fernando Ruiz, says that the effect analyzed so far in terms of infection and re-infection by omicron is still being investigated, and therefore it sends a message of calm to all the population, but it emphasizes the importance of not being complacent in Times of social interactions such as current ones.

However, in this scenario, the Ministry of Education has ordered a full presence in the sector from January and new regulations have been put in place to tackle the epidemic in municipalities and regions. In short, “Covid-19 presents a new face with which to show that in the face of the epidemic nothing is over, and it is necessary to learn to understand it to avoid major surprises, even if it involves some restrictions in favor of everything,” says health worker Elizabeth Beltran.

In January, Colombia will see an increase in the number of cases

The speed of infection and the presence of unvaccinated people will determine this growth in the epidemic. Experts insist that the application of measures and reinforcements can significantly mitigate these results.

Carlos Arturo Alvarez, infectious disease doctor and coordinator of the COVID study, WHO delegate in Colombia. He is also one of the government’s technical advisors on all aspects of the pandemic.

His voice is considered to be one of the most authoritative when it comes to guiding some decisions not only from the official level but also in the national academic context. Alvarez spoke with EL TIEMPO about the presence of the new covid-19 strain in the country.

What does omicron’s arrival mean for the country in the context of the pandemic?

Its presence will determine an increase in the number of cases due to its ability to infect, as well as evade defenses created by vaccines or the natural infection of those who have already suffered from the Corona virus. Thus, the infection can be reactivated despite these conditions.

Are the vaccines applied in the country used to combat Omicron?

Certainly, the vaccines implemented by the National Vaccination Plan of Colombia protect against this variant, but in part, as I mentioned, it can evade immune responses, so it is necessary to drive antibody production with third doses, especially in the at-risk groups.

What is expected in the next few days?

There will be an increase in cases in the coming days determined by social interactions and the circulation of the variable, which could reverse in January and unfortunately a proportion of these people will have to be hospitalized. Hence, we must insist on self-care and vaccination.

Europe begins to impose restrictions; Do you think it will be necessary in the country?

In the country, it is necessary to review what is happening in each region, and according to its epidemiological situation, measures should be taken. At the moment, it is too early to talk about additional restrictions to those already in place, but the more people vaccinated, the fewer the restrictions.

From your position as an expert, what are your recommendations?

Invite people who have not yet been vaccinated to start the vaccination scheme, those who have already started the scheme to complete it, those who have already finished their scheme to apply the booster while maintaining the self-care measures, because we are still going time to reduce the effect of the omicron variant.

Carlos Francisco Fernandez
Health Editor