Covid-19 cases related to the new omicron variant detected to date in South Africa were “mild”, although the number of infections identified is still low to draw conclusions and the situation may change in the coming weeks, according to South African experts.
“The symptoms are mild (…) In two weeks we could have a different image, but for now that’s how it is “, South African doctor Angelique Coetzee, president of the South African Medical Association (SAMA), told the local television network Enca this Sunday.
In the opinion of this doctor, in view of what was observed by the doctors, the situation at the moment would not justify the “panic” generated.
Other experts from the country, however, stressed that it is too early to draw conclusions given the small number of identified cases.
“Observations from clinicians in the field are always important and we rely heavily on them, but we have to be cautious with early reports that all cases of this variant are mild, “said the contagious disease specialist. Richard Lessells, through social networks, following the expectations generated by Coetzee.
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Lessells also emphasized that many of the cases that South Africa is registering these days -in general, not specifically those already identified with the omicron variant- were among young people.
“With this and with the temporary delay (necessary) for infections to progress to severe illness and hospitalization, We could only hope to see the impact on hospitalizations in the coming weeks, “stressed this expert through Twitter.
The discovery of this new variant of the coronavirus, identified as B.1.1.529 and baptized with the Greek letter omicron for the World Health Organization (WHO), It was announced on Thursday by scientists and health authorities in South Africa, based on samples taken in mid-November.
At the time of the announcement infections had already been identified in Botswana and Hong Kong (China), but later detections were added in Israel, in Belgium (a case of a traveler from Egypt with no apparent ties to southern Africa), Australia, the United Kingdom and elsewhere.
The new variant – of which, however, there are still very few confirmed cases in total – is characterized by an unusually high number of mutations, whose impact has yet to be studied.
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The WHO, by categorizing it this Friday as a risk variant, recognized, however, that some of these new mutations seem to suggest an even greater capacity transmission than previous variants.
Despite the limited information available (due to early detection), many countries, including the United Kingdom, the United States and the nations of the European Union, they quickly announced drastic travel restrictions for southern African countries.
Reference-www.elperiodico.com