Update 22 Jun 2022: Omicron BA.4, BA.5 subvariants drive 23% weekly rise in COVID community cases
Singapore is experiencing a 23 per cent week-on-week increase in COVID-19 community cases, driven largely by the Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) on Tuesday (21 June). While the BA.2 subvariant still accounts for the bulk of Singapore's cases, the proportion of BA.4 and BA.5 infections is rising, MOH said in a press release.
About 30 per cent of community cases in the past week were that of the BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants compared to 17 per cent, 8 per cent and 3 per cent for the previous three weeks, respectively. "The surge in BA.4 and BA.5 cases is likely to continue, driven by their higher transmissibility compared to BA.2," said MOH. The country confirmed its first three cases of the BA.4 and BA.5 variants, which have been driving South Africa's fifth COVID wave, in May.
Current safe management measures, including the requirement to wear masks while indoors and vaccination-differentiated measures for some higher-risk activities, will remain, MOH added. It will also continue genomic surveillance for circulating subvariants in Singapore, including requiring some infected cases to take an additional government-funded polymerase chain reaction swab for genomic sequencing.
23% rise in community cases in past week driven by Omicron BA.4, BA.5 subvariants: MOH
Singapore has seen a 23 per cent week-on-week increase in community infections of Covid-19, largely driven by the two Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said on Tuesday (June 21).
Singapore reported 6,393 new infections in the community on Tuesday. Along with 716 imported ones, there were a total of 7,109 daily cases. The BA.4 and BA.5 made up 30 per cent of community cases in the past week, as compared to 17 per cent, 8 per cent and 3 per cent for the previous three weeks respectively. "Although the BA.2 subvariant still accounts for the bulk of our Covid-19 infections, the proportion of BA.4 and BA.5 infections is rising," MOH said.
The "surge in BA.4 and BA.5 cases is likely to continue, driven by their higher transmissibility compared to BA.2", MOH said, but noted that evidence here and abroad has shown that the severity of the two subvariant's infections is similar to that of earlier Omicron strains. There will be no change to the prevailing safe management measures, which include mask-wearing indoors and vaccine-related infection controls for higher-risk activities.
Omicron sub-variants BA.4, BA.5 account for 21% of COVID variants in US: CDC
The BA.4 and BA.5 sub-variants of Omicron are estimated to make up about 8.3 per cent and 13.3 per cent of the coronavirus variants in the United States as of Jun 11, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on Tuesday (Jun 14). The two fast-spreading sublineages were added to the World Health Organization's monitoring list in March and have also been designated as variants of concern in Europe.
The European Union's disease prevention agency said on Monday the new subvariants are spreading more quickly than other variants, which could lead to more hospitalisations and deaths as they become dominant in the continent. "I'm very concerned," said Dr Gregory Poland, head of Mayo Clinic's vaccine research group in Rochester, Minnesota, adding that data from South Africa shows the subvariants are better at circumventing immunity provided through vaccines and previous infections.
Vaccines or previous infection may provide a benefit against death or severe illness, but BA.4 and BA.5 could potentially cause a surge in infections during the summer, just as kids go back to school and people's second booster may have worn off, he said. BA.4 made up 5.4 per cent of the variants in the United States for the week of Jun 5, according to CDC estimates, while BA.5 made up 7.7 per cent of the variants. The seven-day moving average of US COVID-19 cases stood at 105,615 as of Jun 11, up 6.7 per cent from a week earlier.
What to Know About the Newest, Most Contagious Omicron Subvariants
It only took about a month for BA.2.12.1, an Omicron subvariant, to cause most of the new COVID-19 cases in the U.S. since scientists first spotted it in the country. But even newer iterations of the Omicron variant are spreading rapidly through the U.S. and are poised to outcompete past versions of the virus, reinfect millions of Americans, and extend the country’s current COVID-19 surge.
BA.4 and BA.5 now account for more than 21% of new cases in the U.S., according to U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates as of June 11. These two new subvariants evolved from the Omicron lineage to become even more contagious and can bypass immunity from a past infection or vaccination, experts say. This means people can be reinfected even if they had Omicron earlier this year.
Here’s what to know about the latest Omicron subvariants:
- They’re built to escape immunity Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 were first identified in South Africa in January and February 2022, respectively. BA.2.12.1, meanwhile, evolved out of BA.2 in the U.S., and scientists at the New York state health department identified the first cases caused by it in the country in April.
- Some treatments aren’t as effective against them - The newer subvariants can also bypass monoclonal antibody treatments, which use lab-made immune system proteins developed from earlier strains of SARS-CoV-2.
- They’re more contagious - but it’s still unclear whether they cause more severe disease
- It’s unclear which strain will dominate the U.S. next - While BA.4 and BA.5 have driven new COVID-19 surges in other countries, these subvariants have yet to compete directly with BA.2.12.1.
First UK death recorded with Omicron variant
At least one person in the UK has died with the Omicron coronavirus variant, the prime minister has said. Boris Johnson said the new variant was also resulting in hospital admissions, and the "best thing" people could do was get their booster jab.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid told MPs Omicron now represented 20% of cases in England. Mr Johnson said people needed to recognise "the sheer pace at which [Omicron] accelerates through the population" and that they should set aside the idea that Omicron was a milder variant. The prime minister tweeted that more than half a million people had booked their booster jab on Monday, which he described as an "incredible feat".
The UK recorded 54,661 new coronavirus cases on Monday, as well as 38 deaths within 28 days of a positive test. There are 4,713 confirmed cases of the Omicron variant but Mr Javid said the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) estimated the current number of daily infections was around 200,000.
Can existing vaccines protect against Omicron?
As cases of the Omicron variant continue to rise across the U.S., public health officials have one main question: Are the current COVID-19 vaccines from Moderna, Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer effective against the new variant?
For now, no one truly knows the answer but promising data released from Pfizer and BioNTech gave the U.S. a glimmer of hope. In a joint statement Wednesday, the companies said that while their current two-dose jab is "significantly less effective at blocking the virus," a booster shot "neutralized the Omicron variant in lab tests." There's also information from the Africa Health Research Institute published Tuesday suggesting that the booster is likely to protect people from serious illness from the new variant.
The CEOs of Pfizer and Moderna, as well as scientists from Johnson & Johnson, have all weighed in on how effective their vaccine jabs could be. Here's a roundup of what top leaders from vaccine makers have said about their fight against Omicron.
Sinovac booster shot shows 94% neutralization efficacy against Omicron
A staff member checks tags on vials of COVID-19 vaccine at a packing line of Sinovac Life Sciences Co., Ltd. in Beijing, capital of China, Dec 23, 2020. Photo:Xinhua
The latest study shows a third shot of Chinese biotech firm Sinovac's inactivated vaccine can more than double the vaccine's neutralizing antibody positive rate against the Omicron variant, the Global Times learned from the company on Wednesday.
The study was conducted by the company on 20 people who received two shots and another 48 who received three shots. Seven in the first group and 45 in the second tested positive in neutralizing antibodies against the Omicron variant, the company said in a statement to the Global Times.
Sinovac said that the data demonstrated that the administration of a booster shot of its vaccine can effectively enhance the vaccine's neutralizing capacity to the Omicron variant, read the statement.
China’s Sinovac says third shot could help fight COVID-19 omicron variant
The Covid-19 vaccine by Sinovac Biotech is not able to produce adequate antibodies to neutralise the highly mutated coronavirus strain Omicron, according to new research from the University of Hong Kong.
Both the Sinovac vaccine and another by Pfizer-BioNTech produced "inadequate" antibody responses to the variant, HKU scientists said in a statement on Tuesday night, calling for the use of boosters to potentially enhance protection.
Beijing-based Sinovac on Wednesday responded with a statement saying a third shot of its CoronaVac vaccine could improve its ability to neutralise Omicron, citing its own laboratory studies.
China’s Sinovac says third shot could help fight Omicron variant
A high school student receives the Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine in Nanjing, in China’s eastern Jiangsu province. Photo: AFP
The Covid-19 vaccine by Sinovac Biotech is not able to produce adequate antibodies to neutralise the highly mutated coronavirus strain Omicron, according to new research from the University of Hong Kong.
Both the Sinovac vaccine and another by Pfizer-BioNTech produced “inadequate” antibody responses to the variant, HKU scientists said in a statement on Tuesday night, calling for the use of boosters to potentially enhance protection.
Beijing-based Sinovac on Wednesday responded with a statement saying a third shot of its CoronaVac vaccine could improve its ability to neutralise Omicron, citing its own laboratory studies.
WHO sees unprecedented Omicron spread, 'probably' in most countries
WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the strain had "probably" spread to most nations undetected
Dutch primary schools will close early as Europe battles a fresh wave of infections and hospital admissions, while British Prime Minister Boris Johnson faced a major parliamentary test seeking to impose fresh Covid curbs. Omicron, first detected by South Africa and reported to the WHO on Nov 24, has a large number of mutations, setting alarm bells ringing since its discovery.
Early data suggests it can be resistant to vaccines and is more transmissible than the Delta variant, which was first identified in India and accounts for the bulk of the world's coronavirus cases.
Omicron multiplies 70 times faster but is less severe, study says
The supercharged speed of Omicron's spread in the human bronchus was found 24 hours following infection. PHOTO: REUTERS
The supercharged speed of Omicron's spread in the human bronchus in the lower respiratory tract was found 24 hours following infection, according to a Wednesday (Dec 15) statement from the university.
The study, conducted by a team of researchers led by Dr Michael Chan Chi-wai, found that the newest variant of concern replicated less efficiently - more than 10 times lower - in human lung tissue than the original strain, which may signal "lower severity of disease".
Omicron variant more resistant to vaccine but causes less severe covid
Omicron appears to cause less severe illness than earlier variants of the coronavirus but is more resistant to the two-dose Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine widely used in South Africa, according to a major private study of the variant. The study by Discovery Health, South Africa’s largest health insurer, showed that risk of hospital admissions among adults who developed covid-19 was 29 percent lower than in the initial pandemic wave that emerged in March 2020.
Discovery Health provided conflicting information about the size of the study. In the initial release, the company said the study was based on 211,000 positive test results in South Africa, of which 78,000 were attributed to omicron. A subsequent correction to the release removed the word “positive” from the test results and said the change “does not affect any of the calculations.” Later information provided by a Discovery Health spokeswoman put the number of total cases at 78,173, of which 19,070 tests were positive during the “omicron period” from Nov. 15 to Dec. 7. The company did not respond to requests for further clarification
The study found that the vaccine from U.S. pharmaceutical giant Pfizer and German partner BioNTech provided just 33 percent protection against infection, much less than the level for other variants detected in the country. At the same time, the vaccine may offer 70 percent protection against being hospitalized with omicron, the study found, describing that level of protection as “very good.”
Better to be safe than sorry and prepare for Omicron
Researchers are working to find out more about the Omicron variant, but this may take weeks
On discovering the Omicron variant, many countries moved quickly to impose travel restrictions and other public health measures, such as compulsory mask wearing. But, given the lack of data, is this the best course of action? These measures have tangible costs, and some have argued that they are an overreaction. Critics of the travel ban claim that new measures will not significantly prevent the spread of the variant.
Indeed, World Health Organization (WHO) officials have urged countries not to hastily impose travel curbs, instead advocating a risk analysis and science-based approach. Others suggest that the harms of the variant should not be overplayed, given the reports of relatively mild illness so far. Still, scientific advisers in the United Kingdom warn that Omicron may require a “very stringent response”.
Throughout the pandemic, policymakers have been confronted with the issue of how to manage uncertainty. The emergence of the Omicron variant is yet another example of this. One problem with the WHO’s suggestion of adopting a solely science-based approach to policy in this area is that our scientific understanding is currently limited. There is still significant uncertainty about the impact the variant will have on infections and hospitalisations, as well as the effectiveness of current vaccines, tests and treatment.
Classification of Omicron (B.1.1.529): SARS-CoV-2 Variant of Concern
The Technical Advisory Group on SARS-CoV-2 Virus Evolution (TAG-VE) is an independent group of experts that periodically monitors and evaluates the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 and assesses if specific mutations and combinations of mutations alter the behaviour of the virus. The TAG-VE was convened on 26 November 2021 to assess the SARS-CoV-2 variant: B.1.1.529.
The B.1.1.529 variant was first reported to WHO from South Africa on 24 November 2021. The epidemiological situation in South Africa has been characterized by three distinct peaks in reported cases, the latest of which was predominantly the Delta variant. In recent weeks, infections have increased steeply, coinciding with the detection of B.1.1.529 variant. The first known confirmed B.1.1.529 infection was from a specimen collected on 9 November 2021.
This variant has a large number of mutations, some of which are concerning. Preliminary evidence suggests an increased risk of reinfection with this variant, as compared to other VOCs. The number of cases of this variant appears to be increasing in almost all provinces in South Africa. Current SARS-CoV-2 PCR diagnostics continue to detect this variant. Several labs have indicated that for one widely used PCR test, one of the three target genes is not detected (called S gene dropout or S gene target failure) and this test can therefore be used as marker for this variant, pending sequencing confirmation. Using this approach, this variant has been detected at faster rates than previous surges in infection, suggesting that this variant may have a growth advantage.
related: Update on Omicron
SIA pilots, crew on flight with Omicron cases under self-isolation
A Singapore Airlines plane arriving from Singapore lands at the international terminal at Sydney Airport, as countries react to the new coronavirus Omicron variant amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, in Sydney, Australia, November 30, 2021. REUTERS PHOTO
Two travellers who flew from South Africa to Australia via Singapore have been found to be infected with the Omicron variant of the Covid virus. The Ministry of Health (MOH) said that while most of the travellers had remained in the transit area at Changi until their departure for Sydney on Nov 28, 7 had disembarked.
Six are currently on 10-day Stay-Home Notice (SHN) at a dedicated facility and will be PCR tested. One was a close contact of an infected individual on the flight, and has been quarantined. Contact tracing is ongoing for airport staff who may have come into transient contact with the cases. Singapore Airlines said on Monday (Nov 29) that its pilots and crew who operated on the SQ211 flight will self-isolate and get tested for Covid-19, in accordance with the guidance from the authorities.
The New South Wales health ministry said that two travellers who flew from Singapore to Sydney on Sunday have been confirmed to have been infected with the new Omicron Covid-19 variant. Both passengers arrived in Sydney from southern Africa on Singapore Airlines flight SQ211. said NSW Health. SIA declined to reveal any information on the passengers, citing customer confidentiality, but said that it will assist the health authorities in all necessary contact tracing efforts. Australia now has five confirmed cases of the Omicron variant, which the World Health Organisation has classified as a new "variant of concern".
BioNTech, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson explore Omicron versions of Covid-19 vaccines
Drugmakers have been preparing for months for the possibility of needing to tweak their vaccines to deal with a new variant. PHOTO: REUTERS
BioNTech said on Monday (Nov 29) that it has started development in order to move as quickly as possible. The first steps of developing a new vaccine overlap with the research necessary in order to evaluate whether the shot will be needed - a process that both it and Moderna began last Thursday as news of the new variant began to spread around the world.
Drugmakers have been preparing for months for the possibility of needing to tweak their vaccines to deal with a new variant. BioNTech, Pfizer and Moderna will be able to move at unprecedented speed: Both vaccines use messenger RNA technology, which shortens the timeline for a new shot to only a few months. J&J's vaccine relies on a different technology called a viral vector.
BioNTech, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson start work on Omicron-tailored Covid vaccines
BioNTech had said on Friday it expects more lab data over the next two weeks to help determine if there is need for an Omicron-specific vaccine
The variant's emergence has triggered a strong global response as countries worried that it could spread fast even in vaccinated populations impose travel curbs and other restrictions. BioNTech SE said it had started work on a vaccine tailored to Omicron, along with partner Pfizer.
Meanwhile, Moderna Inc said it could take months to begin shipping such a vaccine, Chief Executive Officer Stéphane Bancel told CNBC. Bancel said the effectiveness of existing COVID-19 vaccines against the variant was currently not known, adding there should be more clarity in about two weeks. Johnson & Johnson is also evaluating the effectiveness of its COVID-19 vaccine against Omicron, while also pursuing a vaccine specific to the variant.
J&J joins Pfizer and Moderna in vowing to target Omicron variant
A medical staff member holds syringes with doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine at a temporary vaccination center Saturday in Paris.STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES
“In parallel, we have begun work to design and develop a new vaccine against Omicron and will rapidly progress it into clinical studies, if needed,” Mammen said in a statement Monday morning. Dr. Dan Barouch, head of the Center for Virology and Vaccine Research at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, which helped to develop the J&J vaccine and tested it on laboratory animals, said his lab is starting to synthesize the heavily mutated spike protein of the new variant using the genetic sequence that was posted online on Thanksgiving by South African scientists. But Barouch said it will be a few weeks before his lab can run tests to determine if the three vaccines cleared in the US work against Omicron.
Pfizer’s German partner, BioNTech, said Friday it expects to have more laboratory data on the effectiveness of its messenger RNA vaccine against Omicron “in two weeks at the latest.” If the variant can elude the immune responses stimulated by the vaccine, the company should be able to tweak the vaccine within six weeks and ship initial batches within 100 days, the firm said. Moderna, whose vaccine also relies on mRNA, issued a similar statement on Friday, saying it is testing boosters against variants with features similar to Omicron. The company said it is also working on an Omicron-specific booster and has repeatedly demonstrated that it can get new potential coronavirus vaccines into clinical trials in two to three months.
Unlike the mRNA vaccines, the J&J vaccine uses a virus that causes colds to deliver part of the spike protein of the coronavirus into cells to stimulate an immune response. The Food and Drug Administration has authorized booster shots in adults for all three vaccines because of concerns about waning immune responses.
Coronavirus vaccine makers race to address omicron variant
The WHO warned that the omicron variant poses a “very high” global risk, urging countries to speed up vaccinations. (Dedi Sinuhaji/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock)
Vaccine makers are rushing to explore ways to tailor their coronavirus shots to combat the newly identified omicron variant, which is prompting countries around the world to tighten restrictions to stop the spread.
Germany’s BioNTech and its partner Pfizer, as well as the U.S. firm Moderna, are working to understand what level of protection their vaccines offer and how to adapt them amid concern that the variant’s mutations may make it more transmissible and help it evade the body’s immune response. Moderna has mobilized hundreds of people as it anticipates that its vaccine could lose some efficacy against the variant, and a new version of the shot could be available by next year if needed, executives said.
BioNTech said in a statement Monday that it had moved quickly to launch the first steps of development, which will overlap with research on whether a new shot is needed, and that it would have more answers in about two weeks. Along with Pfizer, the company is conducting clinical trials to test the vaccine against other variants, and the two said last week they could have a tailor-made vaccine in about 100 days if necessary.
Can existing vaccines protect against Omicron?
"Omicron's very emergence is another reminder that although many of us might think we are done with COVID-19, it's not done with us." That was the head of the World Health Organization.
After a frantic weekend of headlines about the new COVID Omicron variant, global governments are racing to assess the risk of this new strain which has already been detected in many countries. Scientists say it could take weeks, and some are preparing for the worst. Israel and Japan, for example, have closed down their borders to foreigners. Other countries are reimposing travel and social distancing measures.
But as of Monday (November 29) afternoon there have been no known deaths directly linked to Omicron. And in South Africa - part of the region where Omicron was first detected - government advisers including a Columbia University disease expert are saying vaccines should still be a major safeguard against it.
WHO identifies omicron as new highly transmissible COVID-19 'variant of concern
The World Health Organization (WHO) announced Friday that it would classify the new B.1.1.529 COVID-19 strain as a "variant of concern," and labeled it with the Greek letter "omicron." WHO made the announcement after an emergency meeting of its Technical Advisory Group on SARS-CoV-2 Virus Evolution. President Biden was briefed Friday on the new variant, the White House said.
"The B.1.1.529 variant was first reported to WHO from South Africa on [Nov. 24, 2021]. The epidemiological situation in South Africa has been characterized by three distinct peaks in reported cases, the latest of which was predominantly the delta variant," the WHO explained. "In recent weeks, infections have increased steeply, coinciding with the detection of B.1.1.529 variant. The first known confirmed B.1.1.529 infection was from a specimen collected on [Nov. 9, 2021]." The omicron variant, the agency noted, has a large number of mutations, "some of which are concerning."
"Preliminary evidence suggests an increased risk of reinfection with this variant, as compared to other VOCs. The number of cases of this variant appears to be increasing in almost all provinces in South Africa. Current SARS-CoV-2 PCR diagnostics continue to detect this variant. Several labs have indicated that for one widely used PCR test, one of the three target genes is not detected (called S gene dropout or S gene target failure) and this test can therefore be used as marker for this variant, pending sequencing confirmation," the organization continued. "Using this approach, this variant has been detected at faster rates than previous surges in infection, suggesting that this variant may have a growth advantage." The WHO advisory group will continue to evaluate the variant and the WHO said it would communicate any new findings with member nations and to the public as is necessary.
How fast does it spread? Scientists ask whether Omicron COVID-19 variant can outrun Delta
As scientists race to understand the consequences of the Omicron COVID-19 variant, one of the most important questions is whether this new version of the coronavirus can outrun the globally dominant Delta variant. The World Health Organization on Friday (Nov 26) designated Omicron a "variant of concern" just days after the variant was first reported in southern Africa. The WHO said it is coordinating with many researchers worldwide to better understand how the variant will impact the COVID-19 pandemic, with new findings expected within "days and weeks".
Many questions remain, including whether Omicron will evade vaccine protection and whether it will cause more serious illness. But such characteristics would be far less concerning if the new variant remains relatively contained. Several disease experts interviewed by Reuters said there are strong grounds already for believing that Omicron will render vaccines less effective. Omicron shares several key mutations with two previous variants, Beta and Gamma, that made them less vulnerable to vaccines. In addition, Omicron has 26 unique mutations, many of them in regions targeted by vaccine antibodies.
Within months, however, Delta spread far more quickly than any of its predecessors. "So the question, really, is how transmissible Omicron is relative to Delta. That's the major, major, major thing that we need to know," said John Moore, a professor of microbiology and immunology at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York.
What we know about Omicron variant that has sparked global alarm
The Omicron strain has been described as ‘an unprecedented sampling’ of mutations from four earlier variants of concern: Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta © FT montage/Dreamstime
The Omicron coronavirus variant that emerged in southern Africa has sparked global alarm owing to its unprecedented set of genetic mutations. Its 50 mutations include more than 30 on the spike protein, the exposed part of the virus that binds with human cells. These could make it more transmissible than the dominant Delta variant and more likely to evade the immune protection conferred by vaccines or previous infection.
Why is Omicron causing such concern? Scientists are worried for two main reasons. One is epidemiological and relates to the speed with which the variant first detected this month is spreading in South Africa, particularly in Gauteng province that includes the cities of Johannesburg and Pretoria. Omicron’s distinctive mutation pattern means that conventional PCR tests can distinguish it from Delta and other variants, without the need for full genome sequencing. Testing has showed it is responsible for more than 90 per cent of infections in Gauteng.
At the same time analysis of wastewater in Pretoria for traces of the Sars-Cov-2 virus — an indicator of outbreak size — suggested that infections had surged close to levels last seen during the Delta wave six months ago.
New COVID variant detected in South Africa prompts UK travel ban
A new coronavirus variant detected in South Africa appears to be rapidly mutating and spreading among younger patients, officials announced on Thursday. The new variant — dubbed B.1.1.529 by scientists — has been detected in South Africa, Botswana and in a South African traveler to Hong Kong, according to South African Health Minister Joe Phaahla. Phaahla said in an online press briefing Thursday that “over the last four or five days, there has been more of an exponential rise” in the variant.
Health officials expressed worry that the variant could result in immune evasion and greater transmission of the virus, but have said it’s too early to determine its impact yet. The new variant has a “constellation” of new mutations, according to Tulio de Oliveira, from the Network for Genomic Surveillance in South Africa, who’s been tasked with tracking the spread of the variant in the country. The new variant so far has over 30 mutations.
The “very high number of mutations is a concern for predicted immune evasion and transmissibility,” said de Oliveira. “We can see that the variant is potentially spreading very fast,” he said. “We do expect to start seeing pressure in the healthcare system in the next few days and weeks.” Just 41 percent of South Africans have been vaccinated for the virus.
UK raises alarm over new COVID-19 variant which could beat vaccines
A social distancing sign is seen amid the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Leicester, Britain, May 27, 2021. REUTERS/Andrew Boyers
The UK Health Security Agency said that the variant - called B.1.1.529 - has a spike protein that was dramatically different to the one in the original coronavirus that COVID-19 vaccines are based on. Officials characterise the variant, which has double the number of mutations as the currently dominant Delta variant, as the "worst one yet".
"This is the most significant variant we have encountered to date and urgent research is underway to learn more about its transmissibility, severity and vaccine-susceptibility," UKHSA Chief Executive Jenny Harries said. The variant was first identified at the start of this week, but Britain rushed to introduce travel restrictions on South Africa and five neighbouring countries, acting much more swiftly than with the currently dominant Delta variant.
related:
New heavily mutated variant B.1.1.529 in South Africa raises concern
We're back in familiar territory - growing concern about a new variant of coronavirus
The latest is the most heavily mutated version discovered so far - and it has such a long list of mutations that it was described by one scientist as "horrific", while another told me it was the worst variant they'd seen.
It is early days and the confirmed cases are still mostly concentrated in one province in South Africa, but there are hints it may have spread further. Immediately there are questions around how quickly the new variant spreads, its ability to bypass some of the protection given by vaccines and what should be done about it. There is a lot of speculation, but very few clear answers.
The variant is called B.1.1.529 and is likely to be given a Greek code-name (like the Alpha and Delta variants) by the World Health Organization on Friday. It is also incredibly heavily mutated. Prof Tulio de Oliveira, the director of the Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation in South Africa, said there was an "unusual constellation of mutations" and that it was "very different" to other variants that have circulated. "This variant did surprise us, it has a big jump on evolution [and] many more mutations that we expected," he said.
Britain alarmed by new COVID-19 variant spreading in South Africa
Britain on Thursday said it was concerned by a newly identified coronavirus variant spreading in South Africa that might make vaccines less effective and imperil efforts to fight the pandemic. The UK Health Security Agency said the variant, which is called B.1.1.529, has a spike protein that was dramatically different to the one in the original coronavirus that COVID-19 vaccines are based on.
"This is the most significant variant we have encountered to date and urgent research is underway to learn more about its transmissibility, severity and vaccine-susceptibility," UKHSA Chief Executive Jenny Harries said. The variant was first identified at the start of this week, but Britain rushed to introduce travel restrictions on South Africa and five neighbouring countries, acting much more swiftly than with the currently dominant Delta variant.
"What we do know is there's a significant number of mutations, perhaps double the number of mutations that we have seen in the Delta variant," Health Secretary Sajid Javid told broadcasters. "And that would suggest that it may well be more transmissible and the current vaccines that we have may well be less effective."
UK raises alarm over new COVID-19 variant that could beat vaccines
Britain says it is concerned by a newly identified coronavirus variant spreading in South Africa that might make vaccines less effective and imperil progress made across the world in fighting the pandemic. The UK will temporarily ban flights from South Africa and five other African countries over worries about the new, dramatically different COVID-19 variant recently identified in the region.
The travel restrictions go into effect on Friday night (AEST) and are a precautionary measure to keep the spread of the new variant in check, Health Secretary Sajid Javid said. The six countries will be placed on the UK’s red list as of Sunday, requiring travellers to quarantine in hotels upon arrival. Officials characterise the variant, which has double the number of mutations as the currently dominant delta variant, as the “worst one yet”.
However, scientists are still trying to determine whether the new variant, called B.1.1529, is more transmissible or more lethal than previous ones. What is clear is that it has the most mutations of any strain yet identified. That has raised concerns inside South Africa and internationally, with authorities fearing a wave of cases that could increase pressure on already strained healthcare systems.
WHO calls special meeting to discuss new Covid variant found in South Africa with ‘a large number of mutations’
The World Health Organization is monitoring a new variant with numerous mutations to the spike protein, scheduling a special meeting Friday to discuss what it may mean for vaccines and treatments, officials said Thursday. The variant, called B.1.1.529, has been detected in South Africa in small numbers, according to the WHO.
“We don’t know very much about this yet. What we do know is that this variant has a large number of mutations. And the concern is that when you have so many mutations, it can have an impact on how the virus behaves,” Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO’s technical lead on Covid-19, said in a Q&A that was livestreamed on the organization’s social media channels.
The monitoring of the new variant comes as Covid cases surge around the world heading into the holiday season, with the WHO reporting hot spots in all regions and particularly in Europe. The U.K. announced it would ban flights from six African countries, including South Africa, starting midday Friday. The UK Health Security Agency “is investigating a new variant,” Health Secretary Sajid Javid said Thursday in a tweet announcing the travel restrictions. “More data is needed but we’re taking precautions now.”
UK raises alarm over Covid-19 variant which could beat vaccines
Britain on Thursday said it was concerned by a newly identified coronavirus variant spreading in South Africa that might make vaccines less effective and imperil progress made across the world in fighting the pandemic.
The British Health Security Agency said the variant – called B.1.1.529 – has a spike protein that was dramatically different to the one in the original coronavirus that Covid-19 vaccines are based on. Officials characterise the variant, which has double the number of mutations as the currently dominant Delta variant, as the worst one yet.
It was only first identified at the start of the week but Britain rushed to introduce travel restrictions on South Africa and five neighbouring countries, acting much more swiftly than with previous variants.
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WHO skips forward two Greek letters, avoiding a Xi variant
When the World Health Organization began to name the emerging variants of the coronavirus, officials turned to the Greek alphabet to make it easier for the public to understand the evolution: Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta and so on.
Now the alphabet has created its own political headache. When it came time to name the potentially dangerous new variant that has emerged in southern Africa, the next letter in alphabetical order was Nu, which officials thought would be too easily confused with “new.”
The letter after that was even more complicated: Xi, a name that in its transliteration, though not its pronunciation, happens to belong to the leader of China, Xi Jinping. So they skipped both and named the new variant Omicron. “‘Nu’ is too easily confounded with ‘new,’ and ‘Xi’ was not used because it is a common last name,” a spokesman, Tarik Jasarevic, said on Saturday in an emailed response to questions about skipping the two letters.
WHO skips over Greek letters 'nu' and 'xi,' names new variant 'omicron'
The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed it skipped the Greek letters "nu" and "xi" in naming its new COVID-19 variant, which it dubbed the "omicron" variant. "'Nu' is too easily confounded with ‘new,’ and ‘xi' was not used because it is a common last name, and WHO best practices for naming disease suggest avoiding ‘causing offence to any cultural, social, national, regional, professional or ethnic groups,’" a WHO spokesperson told Fox News in a statement on Saturday.
WHO recommends using Greek letters to make the virus naming process easier, according to its website. Variants being monitored include alpha (B.1.1.7 and Q lineages), beta (B.1.351 and descendent lineages), gamma (P.1 and descendent lineages), epsilon (B.1.427 and B.1.429), eta (B.1.525), iota (B.1.526), kappa (B.1.617.1), zeta (P.2) and mu (B.1.621, B.1.621.1), which is the last letter before nu, followed by xi and omicron.
The move did not go unnoticed by pundits and politicians on social media — some of whom criticized the decision while others praised it.
WHO skips two letters in Greek alphabet in naming Omicron COVID variant
The World Health Organization dubbed the next coronavirus variant rising in South Africa as Omicron. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse
The emergence of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 has international health experts worried, financial markets roiled and the Internet confused over how the new name was chosen.
The World Health Organization appeared to skip two letters in the Greek alphabet when it announced Friday the name for the latest coronavirus variant, which was first identified in South Africa.
Nu and Xi were apparently the next letters in the Greek alphabet that have yet to be used for a variant, according to data on their website. Internet pundits and politicians speculated that the group skipped Nu to avoid confusion with the word “new” and passed on Xi because of its written similarity to the name of Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
'Omicron' Covid variant: Did WHO skip two letters of Greek alphabet to avoid 'Xi'?
When news of the new SARS-CoV-2 variant B.1.1.529 first began to emerge, many expected that if it was flagged by the World Health Organisation, it would - quite fittingly - be called the 'Nu' variant. The WHO has been naming coronavirus variants after the Greek alphabet and the next available letter was 'Nu'.
However, after to WHO's panel met on Friday, they designated the new strain found in South Africa and Botswana as a 'variant of concern' and announced that it would be called the 'Omicron' variant. Epidemiologist Martin Kulldorf, a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, provided a possible reason. Taking to Twitter, he suggested that the WHO had jumped the alphabet and named the new variant 'Omicron' in order to avoid the potential situation of ever having to call a coronavirus variant the 'Xi' strain.
All things considered, it would be rather awkward for the world to be battling a coronavirus variant that shares its name with Chinese President Xi Jinping, especially after all the debates over the origin of the original virus. But in the bargain, 'Nu' lost its claim to fame too! With an image of the Greek alphabet, Martin Kulldorf wrote, "News of new Nu variant, but WHO is jumping the alphabet to call it Omicron, so they can avoid Xi."
WHO Skips Two Greek Alphabets When Naming Omicron Covid Variant
No Xi Variant? Is It Fear Of China?
The World Health Organization skipped two letters of the Greek alphabet when naming omicron, a newly identified variant of the Covid-19. The agency reportedly skipped ‘nu’ to stop the confusion with new and ‘xi’ to avoid offending Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
Omicron was first reported to WHO by scientists in South Africa and has been identified in several other countries as well.
A note on COVID-19 and its variants
In an effort to make it easier for the public and media to discuss variants, WHO convened experts from various organizations and divisions of WHO to “consider easy-to-pronounce and non-stigmatizing labels.” Which is why there are now Greek Alphabet names for the various variants, at least those that WHO has declared “Variants of Concern” and “Variants of Interest.”
Wuhan or wildtype - The first strain to be identified that originated in the city of Wuhan, China. Greek Alphabet names for the various variants:
- Alpha (UK) - Dubbed B.1.1.7, the UK variant was first identified in the fall of 2020. It spreads more easily and quickly than other variants, according to the CDC, and potentially is 30% more lethal than the wildtype version, although that is still being investigated. It was first detected in the U.S. at the end of December 2020.
- Beta (South Africa) - Dubbed B.1.351, it emerged independently of B.1.1.7 (UK) and was first detected in South Africa in early October 2020. It shares some of the same mutations as the UK strain. Cases in the U.S. were first reported at the end of January 2021. At this time, it is the variant that has most experts the most concerned, because it seems less responsive to existing vaccines and antibody therapies. That said, current evidence suggests it does respond to them, just not as well as the other major known variants.
- Gamma (Brazil) - The Brazilian variant is called P.1 and was first identified in people traveling from Brazil during routine testing in Japan, in early January. It appears to have a group of additional mutations that affect its ability to be recognized by antibodies, according to the CDC. It was first observed in the U.S. at the end of January 2021.
- Iota (New York) - This variant first appeared in New York City and then sporadically in the northeast. It has been named B.1.526. It has been named B.1.526. One of the mutations is similar to that seen in the South African variant that seems to help it evade the body’s response to vaccines. The data on this has, as of February 25, 2021, not been peer-reviewed. The mutation of concern is called E484K, which has been observed in at least 59 different lineages of coronavirus. This means it is evolving independently around the world in what is called convergent evolution.
- California - This variant is called B.1.427/B.1.429 and appears different than the UK variant. One of the mutations, called L452R, affects the virus’s spike protein, which may allow it to attack itself more efficiently to cells, making it more infectious. Again, like the New York variant, the data has not yet been peer-reviewed. However, it appears to be associated with severity of disease and increased risk of high oxygen requirement. In particular, this virus appears to be prevalent in the San Francisco area.
- Delta (India) - The Indian strain what is being dubbed a “double mutant” variant, B.1.617, which had two key mutations observed in other coronavirus variants. The variant was actually first sequenced in a global database of COVID-19 variants in October 2020, but went largely unnoticed. The B.1.617 strain carries features from two lineages, the California variants (B.1.427 and B.1.429) and the ones in South Africa (B.1.351) and Brazil (P.1). The Indian variant’s two prominent mutations include a position 452 of the spike protein and the second at 484. It is believed that existing vaccines should be effective against the variant. It is believed to be about 60% more contagious than the Alpha variant.
- Mu or B.1.621, in September 2021 was categorized by the WHO as a “variant of interest.” It appeared to originate in January 2021, in Columbia, but does not appear to have spread much around the world.
COVID-19: The B117 Strain
B16172 - The India Variants
Why vaccinated people dying from Covid-19 doesn't mean the vaccines are ineffective. Former US Secretary of State Colin Powell died on Monday of Covid-19 complications. His family announced that he was fully vaccinated. He was 84 years old, and had multiple myeloma, a blood cancer.
Health officials worry that anti-vaccine activists will seize upon Powell's death to make the claim that vaccines don't work. If you can still die after being vaccinated for Covid-19, what's the point of getting the vaccine?
What's the answer to that question? I discussed it with CNN Medical Analyst Dr. Leana Wen, an emergency physician and professor of health policy and management at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health. She is also author of a new book, "Lifelines: A Doctor's Journey in the Fight for Public Health."
COVID-19: Pfizer, BioNTech & Moderna making billion$
New figures from the Peoples Vaccine Alliance reveal that the companies behind two of the most successful COVID-19 vaccines —Pfizer, BioNTech and Moderna— are making combined profits of $65,000 every minute. The figures based on the latest company reports are released as CEOs from pharmaceutical industry meet for the annual STAT summit —the equivalent of a ‘Big Pharma Davos’— from 16-18 November.
These companies have sold the majority of doses to rich countries, leaving low-income countries out in the cold. Pfizer and BioNTech have delivered less than one percent of their total vaccine supplies to low-income countries, while Moderna has delivered just 0.2 percent. Meanwhile 98 percent of people in low income countries have not been fully vaccinated. Maaza Seyoum of the African Alliance and People’s Vaccine Alliance Africa said:
- “It is obscene that just a few companies are making millions of dollars in profit every single hour, while just two percent of people in low-income countries have been fully vaccinated against coronavirus."
- “Pfizer, BioNTech and Moderna have used their monopolies to prioritise the most profitable contracts with the richest governments, leaving low income countries out in the cold.”
Despite receiving public funding of over $8 billion, the three corporations have refused calls to urgently transfer vaccine technology and know-how with capable producers in low- and middle-income countries via the World Health Organisation (WHO), a move that could increase global supply, drive down prices and save millions of lives. In Moderna’s case, this is despite explicit pressure from the White House and requests from the WHO that the company collaborate in and help accelerate its plan to replicate the Moderna vaccine for wider production at its mRNA hub in South Africa.
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