Following an unusual spurt in COVID19 cases, scientists in South Africa realised by the third week of November that they had to look deeper into the infections. 

On November 24, the scientists from the Network for Genomics Surveillance in South Africa identified B.1.1.529 as a new variant of COVID19 which is far more infectious than all other COVID19 variants.  Within two days, the World Health Organization (WHO) denoted the new strain as a ‘Variant of Concern’  and named it ‘Omicron’ on November 26.

As soon as the news of the discovery of the highly infectious COVID19 variant surfaced, countries around the world sprang into action and imposed travel restrictions and discussed preventive measures.

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So far, isolated cases of Omicron infections have been found in South Africa, Botswana, Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, Denmark, Netherlands, Germany, the United Kingdom, Israel, Belgium, Italy, Czech Republic and Canada.

How dangerous is Omicron variant of COVID19

South Africa was witnessing around 200 daily cases of COVID19 in the first two-three weeks of November but the number of cases detected after the outbreak of Omicron have risen by more than ten times. On November 29, the African nation registered more than 3,200 cases. 

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Randeep Guleria, chief, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) stated yesterday, on November 28 that the new variant has got over 30 mutations in the spike protein region, giving it the potential to develop an immune escape mechanism, and thus the efficacy of vaccines against it needs to be evaluated critically.

“The new variant of coronavirus reportedly has more than 30 mutations at the spike protein region and therefore has the potential of developing immunoescape mechanisms. As most vaccines (work by) forming antibodies against the spike protein, so many mutations at the spike protein region may lead to a decreased efficacy of Covid-19 vaccines,” Guleria was quoted.

As per Tulio de Oliveira, director of South Africa’s Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation is far more infectious than the Delta variant.  “This new variant, B.1.1.529 seems to spread very quick! In less than 2 weeks now dominates all infections following a devastating Delta wave in South Africa ,” he posted on Twitter. 

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Meanwhile, in its briefing on the Omicron variant of COVID19, the WHO noted that given mutations that may confer immune escape potential and possibly transmissibility advantage, the likelihood of potential further spread of Omicron at the global level is high.

“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 overall global risk related to the new VOC Omicron is assessed as very high,” the WHO added. 

The COVID19 pandemic has repeatedly proved that a rise in the number of COVID19 cases is borne with the risks of mutations. A mutation is a sudden change in the genetic composition of an organism. Whenever a virus replicates itself during infections, there is a possibility of errors in replication. These errors are often inconsequential but sometimes, these errors in the genetic structure of the virus can result in acquisition of characteristics which make it more infectious and deadly. 

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Meanwhile, Peter Openshaw, a professor of experimental medicine at Imperial College London told the Press that it is  “extremely unlikely” that current COVID19 vaccines wouldn’t work, while noting they are effective against numerous other variants.

Vaccine aparthied to be blamed?

South Africa President Ramaphosa has described the emergence of the Omicron variant as a wake-up call for the world on the issue of vaccine inequality – warning that until everyone was vaccinated, more variants were inevitable.

In the wake of countries imposing travel restrictions for travellers from South Africa, the country has stated that rather than being praised for the timely identification of the new variant, it is being punished for it.

“The prohibition of travel is not informed by science, nor will it be effective in preventing the spread of this variant,” he said. “The only thing [it] … will do is to further damage the economies of the affected countries and undermine their ability to respond to … the pandemic,”  South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa was quoted.

Also, an article published in British daily The Guardian took note of the failure of the rich countries in ensuring vaccine supply to poor nations.

“Either rich nations make it possible for poor countries to increase jab rates or they have to seal themselves off from the unvaccinated parts of the world. The fact that the first cases of Omicron have already been reported in the UK shows how difficult it is to do the latter,” the article by Larry Elliott mentioned.

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“If the worst does happen, developed countries will have only themselves to blame because they had it within their gift to prevent new variants from emerging. There is still time to do the right thing. Rich nations need to ensure vaccine targets in poor countries are hit. They need to meet their financial pledges. They need to stop stockpiling vaccines they will never use. They need to reverse aid cuts. They need to waive patent protection. They need to stop being so short-sighted,” it added.