SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant
The Omicron variant (or B.1.1.529) is a form of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. It was first reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) from South Africa on 24 November 2021.[1] On 26 November 2021, the WHO called it a variant of concern, and named it "Omicron".[2]
Etymology: Omicron is a letter in the Greek alphabet.[2]
BA.2.86, or Pirola
BA.2.86, or Pirola, is a descendant of the parent lineage (B.1.1.529).[3][4] It has been known to media since August 2023.[4] Research has not shown (as of 2023's third quarter) if this variant can possibly be more dangerous than other variants that are in circulation (or spreading infection from some people to more people).[4][5] The variant has been found in North America, Europe, and the Middle East.[4] It has "dozens of genetic changes".[4] Related page: mutation.
BA.2.86, samples are from as early as July 2023; It is on the list of Variants under monitoring (according to WHO, as of 2023's third quarter).[6] The variant is a descendant of the parent lineage (or B.1.1.529) of the Omicron variant.
Other descendants of the parent lineage (B.1.1.529)
- EG.5, sometimes called Eris,[7] sampled since February 2023, listed as Variants of interest (according to WHO, as of 2023's third quarter)[6]
- XBB, sampled since August 2022, listed as Variants under monitoring (as of 2023's third quarter)[6]
- BA.2.75, sampled since 2021, listed as Variants under monitoring (as of 2023's third quarter)[6]
Out of circulation
- Lineage, B.1.1.529 (the parent lineage of the Omicron variant) seems to be out of circulation (according to WHO, in March 2023).[8]
Information from 2022
Omicron multiplies around 70 times faster than the Delta variant in the bronchi, but it is less severe than other strains, especially the Delta variant.[9][10] Omicron might be less able to enter deep lung tissue.[11] Omicron infections are 91 percent less fatal than the delta variant, with 51 percent less risk of hospitalization.[12]
Vaccines can protect against severe disease and hospitalisation especially after a third dose of an mRNA vaccine is given.[13][14] Early data found that double vaccination give 30 to 40 percent protection against infection and around 70 percent protection against hospitalization. A recent third vaccine dose boosts effectiveness against infection to around 75 percent, and 88 percent for severe disease.[15]
SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant Media
Omicron variant and other major or previous variants of concern of SARS-CoV-2 depicted in a tree scaled radially by genetic distance, derived from Nextstrain on 1 December 2021
The genomic sequence of the Omicron variant is pictured above 
Mutation prevalence across Omicron lineages
False-color transmission electron micrograph of an Omicron variant coronavirus, shown in pink, replicating within the cytoplasm of an infected Vero cell
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Related pages
References
- ↑ "Classification of Omicron (B.1.1.529): SARS-CoV-2 Variant of Concern". World Health Organization. 26 November 2021. Archived from the original on 26 November 2021. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Parekh, Marcus; Platt, Poppie; Team, Global Health Security; Barnes, Joe (26 November 2021). "Coronavirus latest news: EU suspends all flights to southern Africa over omicron Covid variant fears" (in en-GB). The Telegraph. . https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/science-and-disease/covid-new-south-african-variant-strain-lockdown-restrictions/. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
- ↑ https://fortune.com/well/2023/08/18/ba286-bax-highly-mutated-covid-omicron-strain-detected-united-states-pirola-pi-rho-world-health-organization/ Archived 2023-08-19 at the Wayback Machine. Fortune.com. Retrieved 2023-08-19
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 https://www.cbsnews.com/news/new-covid-variant-ba286-who-monitoring/. Cbsnews.com 2023-08-18
- ↑ https://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/i/EQ9l6G/ny-coronavariant-skaper-bekymring-vesentlig-forskjell. VG.no. Retrieved 2023-08-18
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 https://www.who.int/en/activities/tracking-SARS-CoV-2-variants/. Retrieved 2023-08-18
- ↑ Johnson, Arianna. "What We Know About 'Eris' Covid Variant EG.5: The Dominant Strain Driving An Uptick In Cases". Forbes. Retrieved 2023-08-11.
- ↑ https://www.who.int/news/item/16-03-2023-statement-on-the-update-of-who-s-working-definitions-and-tracking-system-for-sars-cov-2-variants-of-concern-and-variants-of-interest. Who.int. Retrieved 2023-08-20
- ↑ Harvard Medical School (6 January 2022). "Coronavirus Resource Center - Harvard Health". Harvard Health Publishing. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
Lab studies, animal studies, and epidemiological data all indicate that Omicron may cause less severe disease than previous variants.
- ↑ David Leonhardt (5 January 2022). "Omicron Is Milder". The New York Times. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
A few weeks ago, many experts and journalists were warning that the initial evidence from South Africa — suggesting that Omicron was milder than other variants — might turn out to be a mirage. It has turned out to be real.
- ↑ "Lung tissue study sheds light on fast Omicron spread". CIDRAP. Archived from the original on 16 December 2021. Retrieved 25 December 2021.
- ↑ Lewnard, Joseph A.; Hong, Vennis X.; Patel, Manish M.; Kahn, Rebecca; Lipsitch, Marc; Tartof, Sara Y. (2022-01-11). "Clinical outcomes among patients infected with Omicron (B.1.1.529) SARS-CoV-2 variant in southern California": 2022.01.11.22269045. doi:10.1101/2022.01.11.22269045. S2CID 245851556.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ↑ Ahmed SF, Quadeer AA, McKay MR (January 2022). "SARS-CoV-2 T Cell Responses Elicited by COVID-19 Vaccines or Infection Are Expected to Remain Robust against Omicron". Viruses. 14 (1): 79. doi:10.3390/v14010079. PMC 8781795. PMID 35062283.
- ↑ Al Jurdi A, Gassen RB, Borges TD, Lape IT, Morena L, Efe O, et al. (2022-01-06). "Diminished antibody response against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant after third dose of mRNA vaccine in kidney transplant recipients": 2022.01.03.22268649. doi:10.1101/2022.01.03.22268649. S2CID 245739956.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ↑ "How Effective Are COVID-19 Vaccines Against Omicron?". Healthline. 2022-01-07. Retrieved 2022-01-17.
