The sequences of the Omicron variant so far deposited by Italy in the international Gisaid database are equal to 1.9% of the total sequences deposited by our country, but this represents only a partial figure: it is urgent to invest in the genetic sequencing of the SarsCoV2 virus to to know the exact diffusion of the Omicron variant in Italy, geneticist Massimo Zollo, from the Federico II University of Naples and coordinator of the Ceinge-Advanced Biotechnology Covid-19 Task Force, told ANSA. “It is better to invest in this now than to see hospitals fill up and now is the time to do it.”
All nations promoting massive Omicron sequencing activity are helping to provide a picture of the spread of this variant, thanks to sequences stored in the international Gisaid database. “The observations relating to the circulation of the Omicron variant are currently made only on this basis: it is the only site on which there is data.”
From the Omicron sequences deposited from November 26 to today, compared with the total sequences, in Germany the Omicron is equal to 1.5% of the sequences deposited (out of 15981), in the United Kingdom it is close to 10% (out of 12.1227), in France 1.4% (out of 4,551), in Spain 13.8% (out of 1,142), in Switzerland 3.6% (out of 4,466), in the Netherlands 5.1% (out of 1,924) and in Italy 1.9% (out of 3,199).
The problem for Zollo is that in Italy there is little sequencing in a period of strong alert, while it would be very important to do so because “there will always be variants and every alert of a new variant that gives cause for concern, action is needed to trace it”, he said again. the expert referring to the so-called Voc (Variant of Concern).
“There are waves in which identifications and tracing need energy, but in Italy energy is not developed in this direction”, noted Zollo.
“In the last two years, sequencing technology has improved and times have shortened: consequently there are no more excuses why this activity should not be carried out regularly: centers of excellence should be selected and multiplied by 5 and there is no excuse why this should not be done, “Zollo said again.
In our country, he concluded, there is no lack of people with skills and tools and the cost of a sequence, which is currently less than 100 euros, on large numbers could be reduced by half or a quarter; as to the times; moreover, today it is possible to reach the rate of 100 analyzes per day per center, so a region like Campania, he concluded, could produce 5,000 a week by itself.
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Source From: Ansa
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