What is the new strain Omicron? What are the symptoms? Is it dangerous?

We have just gone through a pandemic year with the Delta variant and there are so many disappointments and losses, now there is a new strain Omicron. So what is this variation? What are the symptoms? Is it dangerous? Follow the following article to get the answer.

New strain information Omicron . variant

What is the Omicron variant?

Omicron variant

Omicron is a new variant of SARS-CoV-2, after Delta this variant was first detected in a test sample in Botswana on 11/11/2021, followed by in South Africa on 11/14. 2021. Initially, this variant was named B.1.1.529 but on November 26, 2021, WHO named them Omicron.

Omicron is arguably the most worrisome variant to date. On December 1, 2021, an infection with the Omicron variant was officially detected in the US. The new variant of Omicron is spreading at an “unprecedented” speed compared to previously found variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes Covid-19.

The Omicron variant has a large number of unusual mutations and also new mutations affecting the mutant protein used in most vaccines today. It is because these changes have raised concerns about the possibility of rapid transmission, evasion of the immune system and resistance to vaccines that are a headache for scientists.

According to research, the Omicron variant has up to 32 mutations in the spike protein (the component that helps the virus attach to body cells. Currently, Omicron is considered the most mutant variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Is the vaccine effective against the Omicron variant?

Is the vaccine effective against this variant?

On December 15, 2021, WHO presented the first evidence that Covid vaccines such as Astrazeneca, Vero Cell, .. are now less effective in preventing the mutation of the variant. Omicron . Furthermore, the risk of re-infection with the Omicron variant after infection is also higher than with previous variants.

However, according to recent trials, people who receive 3 doses of Pfizer vaccine have the ability to limit the spread of the Omicron variant . Specifically, the Institute for Health Research in Durban, South Africa conducted a study and found that Omicron can cause the level of neutralizing antibodies to decrease 40 times in people who have received 2 doses of the vaccine.

In addition, there is a good sign that the 3rd dose of the vaccine will reduce the risk of Omicron infection or limit the bad complications caused by this strain. Therefore, the Ministry of Health is now encouraging people to inject more booster shots, including those who have been infected.

What are the symptoms of the new strain of Omicron?

Symptoms of the new strain Omicron

Previously, people infected with Covid 19 had 3 basic symptoms: fever, cough, loss of smell or taste, but with Omicron, there will be more symptoms . Typical are the following 20 symptoms:

• Headache
• Have a runny nose
• Tired
• Sneeze
• Sore throat
• Cough a lot
• Hoarse voice
• Cold or shivering
• Fever
• Dizzy
• Cognitive dysfunction
• Decreased sense of smell
• Eye pain
• Unusual muscle pain
• Anorexia
• Loss of sense of smell
• Chest pain
• Swollen blood
• Feeling down

In which, cough and runny nose were the most common symptoms (83%), 74% experienced fatigue symptoms. 72% had a sore throat and 68% felt a headache.

See more: How do I know if I have Delta or Omicron infection?

Is the new strain Omicron dangerous?

Omicron is a worrying variant

For the first time when the variant appeared, WHO assessed Omicron as a worrying variant because its development as well as its speed of spread up to now is very fast, not inferior to the Delta variant.

Compared to the variant that first appeared in Wuhan, Omicron has 60 mutations with a rapid spread in the community. Up to now, there have been 50 countries in the world with this variant, including Vietnam. The case in Vietnam was detected on January 2, 2022 at hospital 108.

An example shows the terrible spread of Omicron. On 11/11/2021 in Gauteng, South Africa, the first 120 samples of Omicron mutation were detected and skyrocketed to 2038 cases after only 17 days. This shows that their spread rate is exponential and shows no signs of abating.

The CDC also recommends that anyone can contract the new variant and spread the virus to others. Especially people who have been infected with Covid 19 when they come into contact with people infected with Omicron, they are still at risk of re-infection and transmission 5 -6 times faster and 500% faster than Delta mutation.

However, the progress as well as the vaccine to prevent this variant is still being studied and monitored.

Evaluation of Omicron versus Delta variant symptom severity

According to studies comparing people infected with Delta and Omicron strains, F0 infected with Omicron had a 53% lower hospitalization rate, a 74% lower ICU admission rate , along with a lower risk of death. mortality decreased by 91%.

Up to now, there have been no cases of people infected with Omicron requiring mechanical ventilation.

Above is information about the new strain Omicron and clinical manifestations when acquired. Hope that the article brings useful information and hope that you stay healthy.

Source: Tuoi Tre Newspaper

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