Ulrich Elling, a research leader in Vienna, has warned that initial estimates about the Omicron variant of Covid suggests it could be “500 percent more infectious than Delta”.
Mr Elling, whose lab sequences the Covid virus and detects variants, told DW the spread of transmission currently seen in South Africa means it “might be almost impossible to contain this even with a lockdown”. The new Omicron variant was first reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) from South Africa on November 24.
The new strain has since been identified in Botswana, Belgium, Hong Kong and Israel.
Mr Elling said that there were 100 times more cases of Covid in areas of South Africa impacted by the new variant compared to just a month ago.
He explained: “We are seeing an explosion of cases of infections in South Africa, particularly where this variant is detected.
“We saw 100 times more cases yesterday than just 25 days before.”
The Austria-based researcher continued: “This correlates with the emergence of this new variant, which has a staggering amount of new mutations in the spike protein alone.
“The mutations are in areas that increase infectivity and immune-escape.
“At the moment the first estimates are that this variant might be 500 percent more infectious than Delta, and remember that Delta was only 60 percent more infectious than Alpha.
“The spread we will see will be much faster than Delta. It might be almost impossible to contain this even with a lockdown.”
Vaccines may be less effective against new variant says doctor
He added the two areas of data that scientists currently lack are the severity of illness of those infected with the Omicron variant, as well as the effectiveness of vaccines.
The WHO said it would take a few weeks to understand the impact of the new variant.
A top UK health official has warned that vaccines would “almost certainly” be less effective against the new variant.
However, Professor James Naismith, a structural biologist from the University of Oxford, said: “It is bad news but it’s not doomsday.”
US infectious disease chief Dr Anthony Fauci echoed this, saying it was possible that vaccines might still work to prevent serious illness from this new variant.
He urged caution on the new variant, telling CNN: “Until it’s properly tested, we don’t know whether or not it evades the antibodies that protect you against the virus.”
While scientists ramp up research, countries have scrambled to introduce travel bans and restrictions on southern African countries in an effort to contain the spread.
Travellers from South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho and Eswatini will not be able to enter the UK unless they are UK or Irish nationals, or UK residents.
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Original Article: https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1527814/Omicron-variant-Delta-coronavirus-WHO-covid-strain-mutant-UK-South-Africa-latest-vn
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Don’t even start to believe what fictional Fauci has to say.He changes his mind like the global warming quacks!
He belongs in prison. He developed these dreadful flus and brought them down to the U.S. When are we going to wise up to his ways?? Get him out of here.
That’s because this corrupt scumbag socialist government working with the Chinese had to come out with a new strain more deadly because people weren’t dying in the numbers they thought we would, Trump was right hydroxychloroquine once a day will keep the Socialist made-up disease away, vitamin zinc and other supplements could replace all of this if you do the proper research
One of the major issues with all this vaccine hysteria has to do with the credibility of the source. We see all these “opinions” being expressed by our own government agencies as well as so called outside experts. From experience to date it is clear to see what the so called government and phara industry “playbook” consists of to continue to add to the $36 billion vaccine sales totals and dictated control mechanisms being deployed to dominate their agenda.
First it was the two mandatory jabs, then the follow up so called booster. We knew that the next chapters of the plot would include additional variants, sure enough here comes the Delta. Now another one appears with sensational world wide reporting such as this but with another question is this one also man made (how long would that question take to be investigated as evidenced in the Fauci cover up fiasco)? The end result is more shots, more money and more strict controls. Are we doomed to the one world government agenda?
Something is mighty wrong here! Where are these “ new variants” coming from? Mutations, or added to the” vaccines” ?
From unvaccinated people which give the virus new hosts with which they can mutate.
BS! Vaccinated or unvaccinated you can get covid, spread it and die from it. Israel has one of the highest vaccination rates is surging with covid including this new variant. You choose to put this crap into your body knock yourself out, I choose not to. Now that vaccine will be even more useless than when it was new how much of this s**t are you going to pump into your body??? You must be a liberal they are the only ones who are dumb enough to believe it’s the unvaccinated that are the problem. I don’t know why we even call it a vaccine since it isn’t, vaccine means you don’t get it period!!
Apparently, the virus is mutating in the vaxed as well, since they can still “ pass it on” to others.
unless they are being released into the wild rather than spontaneously mutating.
Does make you wonder doesn’t it? I read that some deer have tested positive for covid, if it isn’t airborne exactly how would that happen?
The worst symptoms of this “XI” virus will be the government tyranny that follows…
The Chinese are laughing their asses off!!
Meanwhile, American democrats are considering a foreign financial aid package for China to show the Chinese government that the United States comes in PEACE and promises to not hold China accountable for anything they do globally to the environment, to the oceans, to animals, to sea life, to global warming, to civilization as a whole, etc., etc.
Nancy Pelosi says her multiple millions garnered from insider trading is exempt and that the funding for this financial aid package will be paid for by taxpayers earning more than $15,000 per year, unless you are a minority.