Omicron, the new variant of the Covid-19, it keeps the whole of Europe in check. Since its appearance last November in Africa, the infections of coronavirus they have multiplied and more and more countries are opting for extreme measures. In addition, pharmaceutical companies are also working to strengthen SARS-CoV-2 vaccines and that these are more effective against the new variant. Although there is still a lot of data to collect on Ómicron, all the experts consulted by Medical Writing agree that it is a more contagious strain than the Delta but less dangerous.
Marcos Lopez, president of the Spanish Society of Immunology and head of the Immunology Service of the Hospital Universitario de Marqués de Valdecilla (Santander), affirms that Ómicron infects before and adds that their levels of contagiousness are similar to those of measles, even among vaccinated people. In fact, this last variant is the most contagious of all that have happened so far. As the expert reminds this newspaper, the Wuhan strain had a transmissibility index of between 2.5 and 3 points; rose to 6 with the Delta and Ómicron variant, which already accumulates more than 30 mutationsIt seems that it reaches 10. “It has clearly increased. For this reason, the numbers of infections are so high now, “he warns.
“The Omicron variant represents a greater epidemic risk”, it also confirms Raúl Ortiz de Lejarazu, spokesperson for the Spanish Society of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology (Seimc). “Ómicron has a much greater escape from vaccine-generated antibodies than Delta. People vaccinated with two doses in July are being infected and reinfecting others that had already been infected in the first pandemic wave, which indicates much less effectiveness against the transmission of Ómicron by vaccines ”, he declares.
|
The Omicron variant represents a greater epidemic risk, but is clinically milder |
However, López points out that the circumstances of the Covid-19 pandemic have changed compared to a year ago. “The advantage we have today is that treatments are better managed in the hospital and in the ICU. A guarantee to ensure a better approach and evolution of the patient ”, he defends. In addition, it also refers to vaccines and indicates that the immune response of the same is the same. “The vaccines protect equally against the Delta and Omicron variant.” However, it clarifies that it varies in terms of protection against infection: “The vaccine protects better against infection in the case of the Delta variant than the Omicron strain.” “Once you get infected or sick, the vaccine is not enough to protect you against the virus. The disease is uneven, “he warns.
In this way, it reports that the disease caused by the Omicron variant may be “milder” than the one caused by the Delta, like this the rate of hospitalizations and deaths is lower. According to Ortiz de Lejarazu, “there are no major differences between those who are not vaccinated,” while among those who are, there is a tendency for there to be few symptoms and even none in those under 35 years of age, cough but not as obvious or frequent , headache and tiredness. “Although there are also serious cases in elderly people or with major underlying pathologies despite being vaccinated,” he adds. On the other hand, Joan A. Caylà, president of the Barcelona Tuberculosis Research Unit Foundation (I wasTB), affirms that the loss of smell is not relevant and can occur like a cold.
New strains of Covid-19 are not ruled out after Ómicron
Asked if the Omicron variant may be more virulent in the future, all the experts reject such a possibility. “The evolution of viruses always goes in the opposite direction to virulence. Viruses tend to adapt to their hosts, producing infections of less and less clinical virulence ”, explains Ortiz de Lejarazu. “The opposite would be a biological suicide,” he adds. However, Caylà maintains that yes, another more virulent strain could appear. And to avoid this, remember the importance of reducing transmissions: “If the virus replicates worldwide in millions of people, we give the option to new variants.”
However, this epidemiologist warns that the current epidemiological situation is “worrying” and “probably a good part of it is due to the Delta variant.”
–
Although it may contain statements, data or notes from health institutions or professionals, the information contained in Medical Writing is edited and prepared by journalists. We recommend that the reader be consulted with any health-related question with a healthcare professional.
