• News
  • Sport
  • TV
  • Radio
  • Education
  • TV Licences
  • Contact Us
  • SOUTH AFRICA
  • POLITICS
  • BUSINESS
  • SPORT
  • AFRICA
  • WORLD
  • FEATURES
  • OPINION
No Result
View All Result
1
Home Sci-tech

WHO sees more evidence that Omicron causes milder symptoms

5 January 2022, 9:45 AM  |
Reuters Reuters |  @SABCNews
A man takes a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) test at a pop-up testing site.

A man takes a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) test at a pop-up testing site.

Image: Reuters

A man takes a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) test at a pop-up testing site.

More evidence is emerging that the Omicron coronavirus variant is affecting the upper respiratory tract, causing milder symptoms than previous variants and resulting in a “decoupling” in some places between soaring case numbers and low death rates, a World Health Organisation official said on Tuesday.

“We are seeing more and more studies pointing out that Omicron is infecting the upper part of the body. Unlike other ones, the lungs who would be causing severe pneumonia,” WHO Incident Manager Abdi Mahamud told Geneva-based journalists.

“It can be good news, but we really require more studies to prove that.”

Since the heavily mutated variant was first detected in November, WHO data shows it has spread quickly and emerged in at least 128 countries, presenting dilemmas for many nations and people seeking to reboot their economies and lives after nearly two years of COVID-related disruptions.

However, while case numbers have surged to all-time records, the hospitalisation and death rates are often lower than at other phases in the pandemic.

“What we are seeing now is….the decoupling between the cases and the deaths,” he said.

His remarks on the reduced risks of severe disease chime with other data, including a study from South Africa, which was one of the first countries where Omicron was detected.

However, Mahamud also sounded a note of caution, calling South Africa an “outlier” since it has a young population, among other factors.

And he warned that Omicron’s high transmissibility meant it would become dominant within weeks in many places, posing a threat to medical systems in countries where a high proportion of the population remains unvaccinated.

Vaccination, not vaccines, are the challenge

While Omicron seemed to be slipping past antibodies, evidence was emerging that COVID-19 vaccines still provided some protection, by eliciting a second pillar of the immune response from T-cells, Mahamud said.

“Our prediction is protection against severe hospitalization and death (from Omicron) will be maintained,” he said, saying this also applied to vaccines developed by Sinopharm and Sinovac that are used in China, where Omicron cases remain very low.

“The challenge has not been the vaccine but the vaccination and reaching those vulnerable populations.”

Asked about whether an Omicron-specific vaccine was needed, Mahamud said it was too early to say but voiced doubts and stressed that the decision required global coordination and should not be left to manufacturers to decide alone.

“You may go ahead with Omicron and put all your eggs in that basket and a new variant that is more transmissible or more immune-evasive may appear,” he said, adding that a WHO technical group had held recent meetings on vaccine composition.

The best way to reduce the impact of the variant would be to meet the WHO’s goal of vaccinating 70% of the population in each country by July, rather than offer third and fourth doses in some countries, he said.

As case numbers due to Omicron have soared, some countries, including the United States, have cut down isolation or quarantine periods in a bid to allow asymptomatic people to return to work or school.

Mahamud said that leaders should decide based on the strength of the local epidemic, saying Western countries with very high case numbers might consider trimming isolation periods to keep basic services functioning.

However, places that have largely shut it out would do better to maintain the full 14-day quarantine period.

“If your numbers are very small, you better be invested in keeping that number very, very low.”

Share article
Tags: OmicronWorld Health OrganisationVaccinationCOVID-19
Previous Post

Mauritania’s president tests positive for COVID-19

Next Post

LIVE: ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa paying visit to the BaPedi regent

Related Posts

A man walks beneath a billboard during the 21-day nationwide lockdown aimed at limiting the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in central Cape Town, South Africa, April 6, 2020.

South Africa commemorates three years of hard lockdown

27 March 2023, 10:07 AM
A tap with a droplet of water.

UN Water Conference kicks off as world marks World Water Day

22 March 2023, 9:30 PM
Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital, the Old Coronation Hospital.

“Report exposes state of Gauteng public health facilities”

15 March 2023, 11:09 AM
Members of Nehawu on strike

Phaahla links four deaths to Nehawu’s wage strike

9 March 2023, 1:00 PM
Silhouettes of mobile users are seen next to a screen projection of Instagram logo in this picture illustration taken March 28, 2018.

Instagram down for thousands of users globally

9 March 2023, 7:33 AM
[File Image]: A nurse at one of South Africa's hospital during the height of the coronavirus pandemic.

Patients suffer as health workers strike

9 March 2023, 7:30 AM
Next Post
President Cyril Ramaphosa speaks at an event.

LIVE: ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa paying visit to the BaPedi regent

Most Viewed

  • 24hrs
  • Week
  • Month
  • DENOSA defends nurses for placing newborns in boxes
  • Limpopo teacher writes a book which simplifies Maths
  • North West Health probes why newborn babies were placed in boxes
  • Majodina refutes allegations of soliciting a bribe from Mkhwebane
  • Pending court cases interfering with my duties: AmaZulu King
  • Dr Nandipha’s looks during court appearances under the spotlight
  • Experts raise caution over Prime energy drink craze
  • 108-carat ‘fancy intense pink’ diamond discovered in Lesotho
  • Dr Nandipha Magudumana, co-accused in Thabo Bester’s escape to apply for bail
  • Reserve Bank expected to increase repo rate on Thursday
  • Limpopo teacher writes a book which simplifies Maths
  • Highly unlikely Majodina attempted to solicit funds from Mkhwebane: FF+
  • Bester’s lawyer to challenge procedures of his re-arrest in Tanzania
  • VIDEO: Accused 1 to 4 in Thabo Bester escape denied bail
  • Alleged rhino poaching kingpin to appear in court

LATEST

File: Collins Chabane Municipality mayor Moses Maluleke speaking at an event
  • South Africa

Current Collins Chabane Mayor wants predecessor’s murder case quickly concluded


Mauricio Pochettino applauds fans after a match.
  • Sport

Pochettino handed task of reviving Chelsea’s fortunes


Cows graze as steam rises from the cooling towers of Matla Power Station, a coal-fired power plant operated by Eskom in Mpumalanga province, South Africa, May 20,2018
  • Eskom rolling blackouts
  • Business

Scientist finds solution to extending life of power plants’ rotors


Türkiye President Tayyip Erdogan
  • World

Türkiye’s Erdogan triumphs in election test, extending 20-year rule


Babies inside of cardboard boxes at Mahikeng Hospital in the North West
  • South Africa

Unions protest against suspension of nurses in newborns in a box debacle


One SA Movement leader Mmusi Maimane
  • Politics

Maimane lays culpable homicide charge against govt over “load shedding” death


Weather

  • About the SABC
  • Contact Us
  • Jobs
  • Advertise
  • Disclaimer
  • Site Map

SABC © 2023

No Result
View All Result
  • SOUTH AFRICA
  • POLITICS
  • BUSINESS
  • SPORT
  • AFRICA
  • WORLD
  • FEATURES
  • OPINION

© 2023

Previous Mauritania’s president tests positive for COVID-19
Next LIVE: ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa paying visit to the BaPedi regent