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World Shivers Over Omicron Variant

In the past fortnight, a heavily mutated Covid variant has been identified, rapidly labelled a "variant of concern" by the World Health Organization and named Omicron. It was first detected in South Africa and the spread some countries including the UK, Hong Kong and a few others. It is a rapidly evolving situation. Omicron's genetic profile has raised concerns, but there's a shortage of real-world data that means nobody has the complete picture of what it can do. It is unclear how big a threat it poses.

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A sub-variant of Omicron is dominant in Nepal, says WHO

An official of the World Health Organization says a sub-variant of Omicron variant of the coronavirus is active in Nepal among new Covid-19 cases in the country. The post A sub-variant of Omicron is dominant in Nepal, says WHO appeared first on OnlineKhabar English News.

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Omicron: What we need to know

Smriti Chapagain COVID-19 has been terrorizing the world since its emergence. With repeated waves of the virus disguised in its new form each time, the threat to human life continues to be a global issue. Most recently, the COVID-19 virus has camouflaged itself as Omicron. So, what is Omicron and what do we need to know about it? Omicron is one of the newly discovered mutated variants of COVID-19. The World Health Organization (WHO) classified Omicron as a “Variant of Concern” on 26th November 2021 and still, a lot about it is yet to be uncovered. The Ministry of Health and Population (MOHP) reported the first two cases of the Omicron variant in Nepal on 6th December 2021. It has been rocketing in the past few days, with a high transmission rate as compared to other known forms of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. So, what are its symptoms? The symptoms of the Omicron variant differ much from the traditional COVID-19 symptoms. The commonly identified symptoms are runny nose, headache, fatigue, sneezing, sore throat, persistent cough, hoarse voice, chills, fever, and dizziness. Loss of taste and smell is seen less commonly with Omicron. Also, it is less likely to affect the lungs as compared to the upper respiratory tract. The majority of vaccinated and boosted individuals contracting the Omicron have been experiencing milder symptoms. Current Healthcare Burden in Nepal Omicron symptoms coincide with flu making it hard to differentiate. Almost every household has recently been reporting flu-like symptoms which can be the red flag for widespread Omicron virus. Taking symptoms recklessly by calling it seasonal flu and not getting tested may be fuelling the recent surge of COVID-19 cases. The toll of healthcare workers being tested positive with CoronaVirus is also escalating, thus increasing the burden on health facilities from the shortage of human resources and posing a risk for the collapse of the health system. Prevention WHO has stated that methods of prevention are the same as for other variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. These include: maintaining a physical distance of at least 1 meter from other people, wearing a properly fitted mask, maintaining proper hand hygiene by washing hands with soap and water or sanitization with at least 60% alcohol, improving ventilation across the room, coughing/ sneezing in a bent elbow or tissue, avoiding over-crowded areas or poorly ventilated indoor areas and most importantly, getting vaccinated. Vaccines COVID-19 vaccines serve as the best measure of protection and are expected to protect against severe illness, hospitalizations and deaths due to Omicron infection. A recent research study has found that, as compared to fully-vaccinated individuals, there’s an increased transmission for unvaccinated and decreased transmission for booster-vaccinated individuals. Thus, the threat for COVID-19 infection remains lower for vaccinated people. However, there always remains a possibility of infection, even after full vaccination as no vaccines are 100% effective at preventing it. And, a fully vaccinated person with a breakthrough infection might still be contagious. CDC has recommended getting a booster dose after completion of primary COVID-19 vaccination to everyone aged 16 years and above. A booster shot can be taken after 5 months of completing the Pfizer primary series, 6 months after completing the Moderna primary series and 2 months after the initial J&J vaccine. Take home message Omicron is likely to spread 2 to 3 times, doubling every 2 to 4 days and is 3.2 times more likely to cause household infection compared to the Delta variant (The New York Times, 2022). Also, Omicron is believed to be proficient in dodging antibodies produced by previous vaccinations and infections. Various researches have found that previously infected individuals and/or vaccinated comprised a large portion of Omicron cases. This necessitates the call for strict precautionary measures by both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals, which if not taken timely may lead to the collapse of the health system.

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Omicron exposes inflexibility of Europe’s public hospitals

World Health Organization official warned last week of a “closing window of opportunity” for European countries.

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Omicron 'dangerous' virus for unvaccinated people, warns WHO chief

Jan 14: The Omicron variant of COVID-19 is a "dangerous virus" particularly for those who are unvaccinated, according to World Health Organization (WHO) director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.  "While Omicron causes less severe disease than Delta, it remains a dangerous virus, particularly for those who are unvaccinated," Tedros said during a media briefing on COVID-19 recently.  "This huge spike in infections is being driven by the Omicron variant, which is rapidly replacing Delta in almost all countries," he said. WHO chief also highlighted Africa's COVID-19 vaccination rate and said "in Africa, more than 85 per cent of people are yet to receive a single dose of vaccine. We cannot end the acute phase of the pandemic unless we close this gap." "We are making progress. In December, COVAX shipped more than double the number of doses it shipped in November, and in the coming days, we expect COVAX to ship its 1 billionth vaccine dose," he stated. He further stated that some of the supply constraints we faced last year are now starting to ease, but we still have a long way to go to reach our target of vaccinating 70 per cent of the population of every country by the middle of this year. 90 countries have still not reached the 40 per cent target, and 36 of those countries have vaccinated less than 10 per cent of their populations, he added. "WHO and our partners are actively supporting these countries to overcome the bottlenecks they face, in leadership and coordination, lack of supply visibility, short shelf-life of donated vaccines, limited cold chain capacity, vaccine confidence, health worker shortages, and competing priorities," he added.

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Omicron variant affects upper respiratory tract: MoHP officials

KATHMANDU, Jan 13: The newly detected Omicron variant of COVID-19 is said to be more transmissible than the previous Delta variant.  Though the Omicron variant is so far found to be less fatal, its spreading rate is faster.  According to Joint Spokesperson at the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP), Dr Sameer Kumar Adhikari, the symptoms of the latest variant are similar to previously detected variants.  The ongoing gene sequencing about COVID-19 shows the cases of Omicron variant have soared, suggesting its high transmissibility. “This variant affects the upper respiratory tract unlike previous variants as they would have their implications in the lower respiratory tract or lungs.  However, further studies about the consequences of the variant are underway,” said Dr Sangita Kaushal Mishra,  spokesperson for the Ministry. In the past one week, the virus has affected 10 million people globally and the World Health Organisation suspects the highest contribution of Omicron variant to the soaring infections.  The virus can infect the vaccinated people as well, that's why all should take precautions.  Itchy throat, breathing difficulty, sneezing, mild fever, congestion or runny nose are among the symptoms of Omicron variant. Health professionals advise everyone to follow all the health protocols against the virus.

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Omicron should not be categorized as 'mild': WHO

GENEVA, Jan 7: The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned against describing the Omicron variant as mild, saying it is killing people across the world. During a press conference on Friday, WHO chief Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that  Omicron is hospitalizing people and killing people  Just like previous variants. “Omicron does appear to be less severe compared to Delta, especially in those vaccinated, it does not mean it should be categorized as ‘mild’. “In fact, the tsunami of cases is so huge and quick, that it is overwhelming health systems around the world.  “Hospitals are becoming overcrowded and understaffed, which further results in preventable deaths from not only COVID-19 but other diseases and injuries where patients cannot receive timely care.” Read his full speech here :  Happy New Year! The dawn of a new year offers an opportunity to renew our collective response to a shared threat. I hope global leaders who have shown such resolve in protecting their own populations will extend that resolve to make sure that the whole world is safe and protected.  And this pandemic will not end until we do that! Last week, I asked everyone to make a New Year’s resolution to get behind the campaign to vaccinate 70% of people in every country by the middle of 2022. And on top of that, to ensure that breakthrough treatments, as well as reliable tests, are available in all countries. To end the acute stage of the pandemic, the highly effective tools science has given us need to be shared fairly and quickly with all countries of the world. Vaccine inequity and health inequity overall were the biggest failures of last year. While some countries have had enough personal protective equipment, tests and vaccines to stockpile throughout this pandemic, many countries do not have enough to meet basic baseline needs or modest targets, which no rich country would have been satisfied with. Vaccine inequity is a killer of people and jobs and it undermines a global economic recovery.  Alpha, Beta, Delta, Gamma and Omicron reflect that in part because of low vaccination rates, we’ve created the perfect conditions for the emergence of virus variants. Last week, the highest number of COVID-19 cases were reported so far in the pandemic. And we know, for certain, that this is an underestimate of cases because reported numbers do not reflect the backlog of testing around the holidays, the number of positive self-tests not registered, and burdened surveillance systems that miss cases around the word. While Omicron does appear to be less severe compared to Delta, especially in those vaccinated, it does not mean it should be categorized as ‘mild’. Just like previous variants; Omicron is hospitalizing people and it is killing people. In fact, the tsunami of cases is so huge and quick, that it is overwhelming health systems around the world.  Hospitals are becoming overcrowded and understaffed, which further results in preventable deaths from not only COVID-19 but other diseases and injuries where patients cannot receive timely care. First-generation vaccines may not stop all infections and transmission but they remain highly effective in reducing hospitalization and death from this virus. So as well as vaccination, public health social measures, including the wearing of well fitting masks, distancing, avoiding crowds and improving and investing in ventilation are important for limiting transmission. At the current pace of vaccine rollout, 109 countries would miss out on fully vaccinating 70% of their populations by the start of July 2022. The essence of the disparity is that some countries are moving toward vaccinating citizens a fourth time, while others haven’t even had enough regular supply to vaccinate their health workers and those at most risk.  Booster after booster in a small number of countries will not end a pandemic while billions remain completely unprotected. But we can and must turn it around. In the short-term we can end the acute stage of this pandemic while preparing now for future ones.   First, we must effectively share the vaccines that are being produced. Throughout most of 2021 this was not the case but toward the end, supply increased. Now it’s crucial that manufacturers and dose-donating countries share delivery timings ahead of time so that countries have adequate preparation to roll them out effectively. Second, let’s take a ‘never again’ approach to pandemic preparedness and vaccine manufacturing so that as soon as the next generation of COVID-19 vaccines become available, they are produced equitably and countries don’t have to beg for scarce resources. A few countries have provided a blueprint for how high quality vaccines and other health tools can be mass produced quickly and distributed effectively. And now we need to build on it. WHO will continue to invest in vaccine manufacturing hubs and work with any and all manufacturers who are willing to share know-how, technology and licenses. I’m encouraged by some of the vaccines currently going through trial where innovators have already committed to waiving patents and sharing licenses, technology and know how. It reminds me of how Jonas Salk did not patent his polio vaccine and in doing so saved millions of children from the disease.  Lets also invest and build the public health and health systems we need with strong surveillance, adequate testing, a strengthened, supported and protected health workforce, and an empowered, engaged and enabled global population. And finally, I call on citizens of the world, including civil society, scientists, business leaders, economists and teachers to demand that governments and pharmaceutical companies to share health tools globally and bring an end to the death and destruction of this pandemic. We need vaccine equity, treatment equity, test equity and health equity and we need your voices to drive that change. Equity, equity, equity. === No place is this message of equity more true than in countries or regions dealing with humanitarian crises and conflict zones. In these areas, tackling the pandemic, as well as keeping health services on track is extremely challenging. The base requirement for lifesaving intervention is humanitarian access. And we are on the ground in every humanitarian crisis and in all instances have found ways to reach populations with aid and supplies.  For example, in Afghanistan, until recently, over three quarters of health facilities reported stock-outs of essential medicines and there was a threat to sustaining health workers in their posts. But as of December, over 2,300 health facilities had received new supplies and 25,000 health workers have been paid ensuring the functionality of 96% of the health system through a joint WHO-UNICEF effort. === In Ethiopia, WHO was able to dispatch 14 metric tonnes of medical supplies to Afar and 70 metric tonnes to Amhara in December. In Tigray, WHO has not been permitted to deliver medical supplies since mid-July of last year. This is despite repeated requests from WHO to provide medical supplies to the Tigray region, which would help meet some of the humanitarian and health needs in Tigray. Even in the toughest periods of conflict in Syria, South Sudan, Yemen and others, WHO and partners have had access to save lives. However, in Tigray the defacto blockade is preventing access to humanitarian supplies, which is killing people. === At the top, I spoke of how the New Year is a time to renew. I urge all leaders and key stakeholders in conflict to remember that those who work for peace are the heroes history remembers. We need health for peace and peace for health.  To build trust and save lives, a good starting point is to ensure humanitarian and health corridors are open in all conflict zones so international agencies and civil society groups can do what they do best – save lives.  === And to those celebrating Orthodox Christmas tomorrow, may your homes be filled with peace, happiness and good health.

Ratopati English मंसिर २०७८

New Year with new corona variant: Omicron

The new version of COVID-19 is beginning to have a devastating impact on the entire world. Following the sudden rise in the number of Omicron cases, several countries have updated their COVID policies, imposed restrictions and urged everyone to take precautions. Experts are concerned about the new version of COVID now said to be widespread as India fought and survived a previously deadly version. Both Delta and Omicron have been declared "of interest" by the World Health Organization (WHO). But which one is more serious and dangerous than the other remains to be seen. India died tragically in the second wave of COVID-19. Many people have died while others continue to suffer from the infection. Delta strain, believed to be the cause of the second wave, is still the dominant strain and continues to infect many people. It was first discovered in India and now exists in many countries. In light of the new version of COVID, Omicron, experts have witnessed a sudden spike in the number of COVID-19 cases, which may indicate a third wave is approaching. According to the latest research, the third wave of COVID-19 can be expected as early as January-February 2022 next year. However, experts believe the consequences are mild.  It is not known how serious the new version B.1.1529 is, but scientists and doctors suspect it could be highly contagious. Due to the dramatic increase in the number of COVID cases in a short period of time, this option is considered very portable. The genome sequencing results showed that the Omicron variant was more severely mutated than the Delta variant. There are more than 30 mutations in the vertebrate protein itself, compared to 18 found in the delta. This should cause a more sudden infection by immunizing the new COVID-19 strain against vaccine-induced antibodies. In terms of symptoms, early reports by Dr. Angelique Cootzee, president of the South African Medical Association, which first discovered the omicron mutations, suggested that the omicron symptoms were "abnormal" but "mild." According to doctors, people infected with Omicron report only mild symptoms such as fatigue, pain in the limbs and “scratches” in the throat, but not a sore throat. There were no cases of nasal congestion or fever. In most cases, the symptoms go away on their own, he said. The Delta strain can cause mild symptoms such as fever, fatigue, and coughing among the most common symptoms, but a large population develops very severe symptoms, some of which require hospitalization or intensive care. However, to date, no serious cases of omicrons have been reported.  According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Omicron variants have been reported in 57 countries, and the number of patients requiring hospitalization is likely to grow as the outbreak spreads. Even if the severity is equal or potentially even lower than for the Delta variant, it is expected that hospitalizations will increase if more people become infected and that there will be a time lag between an increase in the incidence of cases and deaths. On November 26, WHO announced the omicron strain, first discovered in South Africa, as a cause for concern. This is the fifth SARS-CoV-2 strain to receive this designation. The number of reported cases of COVID-19 in South Africa has doubled by five weeks. He added that the proliferation of Omicron, along with an increase in the number of tests and lower vaccination rates, may have played a role. Here once more we have to get organized to welcome the brand new variant,this new year. Wearing a mask, social distancing, and wearing boosters are important, but they may not be enough. No one wants to tackle new hurdles, but if Omicron has a decent level of immune defenses compared to Delta, or makes it more portable, it may need one final step to protect healthcare.

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All about Omicron variant of COVID-19

People around the world are concerned about the Omicron variant of COVID-19. Here are the latest expert information about this new variant. What is the Omicron variant?  The Omicron variant of COVID-19 has been called a variant of concern by WHO based on the evidence that it has several mutations that may have an impact on how it behaves. There is still substantial uncertainty regarding Omicron and a lot of research underway to evaluate its transmissibility, severity and reinfection risk. How did the Omicron variant develop?  When a virus is circulating widely and causing numerous infections, the likelihood of the virus mutating increases. The more opportunities a virus has to spread, the more opportunities it has to undergo changes. New variants like Omicron are a reminder that the COVID-19 pandemic is far from over. It is therefore essential that people get the vaccine when available to them and continue to follow existing advice on preventing the spread of the virus, including physical distancing, wearing masks, regular handwashing and keeping indoor areas well ventilated. It is also crucial that vaccines and other public health measures are accessible everywhere. Vaccine inequity leaves lower income countries – many of them in Africa – at the mercy of COVID-19. Well-supplied countries must urgently deliver the doses they promised. Where is the Omicron variant present?  The Omicron variant has now been detected in many countries around the world. WHO reports that Omicron is probably in most countries, even if it hasn’t been detected yet. Is the Omicron variant more severe than other COVID-19 variants?  Early findings suggest that Omicron might be less severe than the Delta variant, but more data is needed and WHO warns that it should not be dismissed as “mild”. Studies are ongoing and this information will be updated as it becomes available.  It is important to remember that all variants of COVID-19 can cause severe disease or death, including the Delta variant that is still dominant worldwide, which is why preventing the spread of the virus and reducing your risk of exposure to the virus is so important. Is the Omicron variant more contagious?  Omicron is spreading more quickly than other variants. Based on the information available, WHO believes it is likely that Omicron will outpace the Delta variant where there is COVID-19 transmission in the community.  However, being vaccinated and taking precautions such as avoiding crowded spaces, keeping your distance from others and wearing a mask are critical in helping to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and we know these actions have been effective against other variants.   Does the Omicron variant cause different symptoms?   There is no information to suggest that Omicron causes different COVID-19 symptoms from other COVID-19 variants. Are the COVID-19 vaccines effective against the Omicron variant?   Researchers are looking into any potential impact the Omicron variant has on the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines. Information is still limited, but there may be a small reduction in the effectiveness of vaccines against severe illness and death, and a decline in preventing mild disease and infection. However, WHO reports that so far it looks like the currently available vaccines offer significant protection against severe disease and death. It is also important to be vaccinated to protect against the other widely circulating variants, such as the Delta one. When it’s your turn, make sure to get vaccinated. If your vaccination involves two doses, it’s important to receive both in order to have the maximum protection.   Is a prior COVID-19 infection effective against the Omicron variant? WHO reports that early evidence suggests that previous infection could offer less protection against Omicron in comparison to other variants of concern, such as Delta. Information is still limited though and we will share updates as it becomes available. You should get vaccinated even if you’ve previously had COVID-19. While people who recover from COVID-19 may develop some natural immunity to the virus, we do not yet know how long it lasts or how well you are protected. Vaccines offer more reliable protection. Do current COVID-19 tests detect the Omicron variant?  The widely used PCR and antigen-based rapid diagnostic tests continue to detect infection of COVID-19, including Omicron. Are children more likely to contract the Omicron variant?  Research is ongoing into Omicron’s transmissibility and we will update as more information becomes available. However, people who are mixing socially and those who are unvaccinated are more susceptible to contracting COVID-19. How can I protect myself and my family against the Omicron variant? The most important thing you can do is reduce your risk of exposure to the virus. To protect yourself and your loved ones, make sure to:  Wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth. Make sure that your hands are clean when you put on and remove your mask. Keep a physical distance of at least 1 metre from others.  Avoid poorly ventilated or crowded spaces. Open windows to improve ventilation indoors. Wash your hands regularly.   When it’s your turn, get vaccinated. WHO-approved COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective.   How can I talk to my child about the Omicron and other COVID-19 variants? News about COVID-19 and now the Omicron variant is flooding our daily lives and it is only natural that curious young children will have questions – lots of them. Here are some pointers to keep in mind tips for helping to explain what can be a complicated topic in simple and reassuring terms.  Children have a right to know what is going on, but it should be explained to them in an age-appropriate way.  Invite your child to share what they have heard and listen to their responses. It is important to be fully engaged and take any fears they have seriously. Be patient, the pandemic and misinformation has caused a lot of worry and uncertainty for everyone. Make sure that you are up to date on the latest information yourself. Websites of international organizations like UNICEF and the World Health Organization are great sources of information about the pandemic. If you don’t know the answer, don’t guess. Use it as an opportunity to explore the answers together.  Remember that kids take their emotional cues from adults, so even if you are worried for your little one knowing that they might be uncomfortable, try not to overshare your fears with your child.  This article was published by UNICEF

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Blanket travel bans will not prevent int'l spread of Omicron variant: WHO

GENEVA, Dec 1: The World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Tuesday that blanket travel bans will not prevent the international spread of the COVID-19 Omicron variant, even as dozens of countries have already introduced such restrictions. Although labeling Omicron as a "variant of concern", the WHO said blanket travel bans will only place a heavy burden on lives and livelihoods, while also "disincentivizing countries to report and share epidemiological and sequencing data." The Omicron variant was first reported to the WHO by South Africa last week. So far, several countries and regions have confirmed cases of infection with Omicron. "It is expected that the Omicron variant will be detected in an increasing number of countries as national authorities step up their surveillance and sequencing activities," WHO said in an updated travel advice. As of Nov. 28, 56 countries were reportedly implementing travel measures aimed at potentially delaying the importation of the new variant, according to the WHO. At a member states session on the Omicron variant on Tuesday, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus thanked Botswana and South Africa for detecting and reporting this variant so rapidly. It is deeply worrying that these countries were being penalized by others for doing the right thing, he said. He called the "blunt, blanket measures" introduced by some member states "not evidence-based or effective on their own." He urged countries to take "rational, proportional risk-reduction measures, in keeping with the International Health Regulations." Meanwhile, the WHO advised that persons "who are unwell, or who have not been fully vaccinated or do not have proof of previous SARS-CoV-2 infection and are at increased risk of developing severe disease and dying, including people 60 years of age or older or those with comorbidities that present increased risk of severe COVID-19 (e.g. heart disease, cancer and diabetes) should be advised to postpone travel to areas with community transmission." "Studies are ongoing to understand more about these mutations (of the Omicron variant) and their impact on transmissibility, virulence, diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines," it said.

Ratopati English कार्तिक २०७८

WHO seeking "pandemic treaty" amid Omicron concerns

A special session of the World Health Assembly (WHA) kicked off here on Monday amid growing concerns over the latest Omicron coronavirus variant, where the participants aim to negotiate a new "pandemic treaty."

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