Omicron investigations to understand the threat

As the Omicron variant spreads around the world, scientists and health officials are finding that patients are experiencing no symptoms or mild ones so far. There are also indications that current COVID-19 vaccines may be effective against the new variants, but more tests need to be carried out.

A woman receives a vaccine in South Africa. Source: AAP

The head of South Africa's ministerial advisory committee on COVID-19 says there are "promising" signs about the vaccines' ability to protect against the Omicron variant of the coronavirus.

But Professor Barry Schoub warns it is still too soon to know what the threat is like with the new variant only recently identified.

Scientists in South Africa and around the world are performing genetic sequencing of omicron samples to learn more about it.

Much remains unknown about omicron, including whether it is more contagious, if it makes people more seriously ill or whether existing vaccines are effective against it.

Cameroonian virologist and Africa C-D-C director Dr. John Nkengasong says he is "concerned" about the situation in South Africa, where omicron has now become the dominant variant of the virus.

The C-D-C chief highlights the need for countries to find strategies to increase the uptake of the supply of vaccines currently available around Africa.

 

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