Omicron variant spreading faster; even infecting the vaccinated: WHO

As per recent data by the World Health Organization (WHO), the Omicron variant is spreading rapidly compared to the Delta variant and is causing infection in people who are now vaccinated or who have recovered earlier from the COVID-19 disease.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, said in a news briefing that now there is reliable evidence that the Omicron is transmitting significantly faster than the Delta variant.

Soumya Swaminathan, WHO chief scientist, said that the new variant was efficaciously escaping some of the immune responses, meaning that the booster shots will be targeted towards people who have a weak immune system.

The new variant seems to be better at dodging the antibodies produced by some COVID-19 vaccines; however, there are other types of immunities that may prevent infection and disease. However, still, there is hope that not all the vaccines will be completely ineffective, added Swaminathan.

Still, the health agency extended some hope to the world that is currently facing the new wave, stating that 2022 could be the last year of the pandemic, which has taken the lives of more than 5.6 million people worldwide. The pandemic may end with the development of antimicrobial treatments and other innovations.

Mike Ryan, the WHO's top emergency expert, told in a briefing that the organization hopes to consign this disease as a mild disease that can be easily prevented and treated and something with which the world could easily cope up in the future.

If the virus transmission could be kept minimum, then the pandemic could be brought to an end.

Additionally, Mr. Tedros said that China, where the SARS-CoV-2 Coronavirus was detected first in 2019, could come up with some information and data related to its origin for helping the response going forward.

Source Credit - https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/omicron-spreading-faster-than-delta-infecting-the-vaccinated-who-2661985