As researchers and medical experts around the world race to get a better understanding of the Omicron coronavirus strain, there is new evidence to suggest that the variant has mutated with the common cold and could become much easier to contain than previous strains such as Delta.
The Omicron variant contains a large number of mutations, especially to the spike protein which is the part of the virus which enables it to attach itself to the nose and lungs.
Many of Omicron’s mutations have not been observed on previous coronavirus strains and researchers still have much to learn about the impact these mutations will have on the human body.
One surprise finding however is that the Omicron strain may have evolved by mutating with a strain of the common cold.
A study led by Venky Soundararajan of Cambridge, Massachusetts-based data analytics firm, nference, found a genetic sequence which does not appear in any earlier versions of the coronavirus, called SARS-CoV-2, but which is found in many other viruses including those that cause the common cold, as well as occurring within the human genome itself.
By inserting this particular snippet into itself, Omicron might be making itself look “more human,” which would help it evade attack by the human immune system.
Although much is still unknown about the new strain, it appears to be more infectious than the Delta variant, which is presently the dominant strain, and it appears to be more capable at reinfecting those who have already caught other strains of the virus.
There is also some concern that the virus may be more adept at evading the coronavirus vaccines currently available.
However, if Omicron’s increased transmissibility causes it to become the dominant global strain but with only cold-like symptoms, the coronavirus pandemic and the raft of punitive restrictions that have been imposed around the world to contain it’s spread, could rapidly be bought to a close.
Most people who have contracted the Omicron strain to date have reported experiencing only mild to moderate symptoms and so far, there has been no pronounced increase in hospitalisations or deaths as a result catching the virus.
The CEO of the Netcare group, South Africa’s largest private health-care network, Dr Richard Friedland, believes we could indeed be nearing the end of the pandemic.
“We are seeing breakthrough infections of people who have been vaccinated, but the infections we’re seeing are very mild to moderate.
“If in the second and third wave we’d seen these levels of positivity to tests conducted, we would have seen very significant increases in hospital admissions and we’re not seeing that,” he says.
“So I actually think there is a silver lining here and this may signal the end of COVID-19, with it attenuating itself to such an extent that it’s highly contagious, but doesn’t cause severe disease. That’s what happened with Spanish flu.
While understanding the full impact of the Omicron variant will require much more data, experts are confident there is no need for panic at this stage and possibly, even cause for optimism.
Source – 7 News Australia, Reuters.