Variants of the coronavirus that preceded Omicron probably existed long ago, said the co-discoverer of the new variant, quoted by DPA, BTA reported.
“According to our current information, the early form of Omicron was formed as a separate type before the advent of Alpha and Delta,” said Wolfgang Preiser of Stellenbosch University near Cape Town. This type of virus has probably evolved over months without attracting attention. “The question is: why did Omicron remain hidden for so long and only now spread? Weren’t there one or two mutations missing that would allow it to spread quickly?” Praiser asked.
The oldest evidence for the option so far dates back to the first half of November. Omicron, first discovered in the Republic of South Africa and Botswana, has a particularly large number of mutations, affecting the protein through which it attaches to human cells. In Germany, 4 cases have been confirmed so far and another 8 are suspected. However, experts suggest that there are already other cases. According to the European Center for Disease Control and Prevention, within a few months the option could become dominant in Europe. So far, there are no specific data on how contagious it is and whether it leads to a more severe course of the disease, but according to preliminary information, Omicron has serious advantages over the Delta option.
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