GENEVA Reuters - The World Health Organisation WHO classified the B on Friday. In South Africa, a variant of 529 was detected as a SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern, saying it may spread more quickly than other forms.
There was evidence that there was an increased risk of reinfection and there had been a detrimental change in COVID 19 epidemiology, according to a statement made by independent experts who reviewed the data.
In South Africa, infections had risen steeply in recent weeks, coinciding with the detection of the variant now designated as omicron, WHO said.
This variant has a large number of mutations, some of which are concerning. Preliminary evidence shows an increased risk of re-infection with this variant, as opposed to other variants of concern, it said.
Omicron is the fifth variant to carry such a designation.
This variant has been detected at faster rates than previous surges in infection, suggesting that this variant may have a growth advantage, the WHO said.
It said that current PCR tests continue to detect the variant.
The WHO cautioned countries against hastily imposing travel restrictions linked to the variant COVID 19, saying that they should take a risk-based and scientific approach. Global authorities reacted with alarm to the new variant detected in South Africa, with the EU and Britain tightening border controls as scientists tried to find out if the mutation was vaccine resistant.
At this point, implementing travel measures is being cautioned against, according to Christian Lindmeier, WHO spokesman, at a U.N. briefing in Geneva. Countries should use a risk-based and scientific approach when implementing travel measures, according to the WHO. He said it would take several weeks to determine the variant's transmissibility and effectiveness of vaccines and therapeutics against it, and that 100 sequences of the variant have been reported so far.
People should wear masks whenever possible, avoid large gatherings, maintain hand hygiene and wear masks, according to Lindmeier.
Mike Ryan, WHO's emergency director, praised South African public health institutions for picking up the signal of the new variant.
He warned that while some countries had systems in place to do this, the situation was often unclear. There is really important that there are no knee-jerk responses here. He said that it was especially true with regard to South Africa. In the past, the minute there is any mention of any variation, everyone is closing borders and restricting travel.