WHO says there is no evidence that the Ômicron variant generates more severe cases of Covid-19

The World Health Organization (WHO) released this Sunday, 28, that so far no evidence has been found that the variant Omicron coronavirus causes more severe cases or symptoms other than known strains. These conclusions come from the group of experts who are analyzing for the UN agency the latest evolutionary strain of the pathogen that causes the Covid-19. Although the rate of admissions due to the disease has increased in recent days in South Africa, the first country in which the variant was detected, “this could be the result of a general increase in those infected, and not just specific infections with Ômicron”, indicated the group of experts, in a statement.

Many of the first cases of the strain are university students, that is, “young people who tend to suffer from milder forms of the disease”, as indicated by the members of the Advisory Group of Specialists in the Evolution of the Virus WHO. The Committee confirmed the position already expressed last Friday, 26, that “understanding the level of severity of the Ômicron variant may take several days or weeks.” Experts explained that the strain appears to increase the risk of reinfection, however, it is still not clear that it is more contagious in other cases.

Regarding the response of treatments against Covid-19, the researchers pointed out that corticosteroids and interleukin-6 (IL6) receptor antagonists seem to remain effective in critically ill patients, while there are still no conclusions about the response of existing vaccines to variant. Ômicron, whose first cases are from samples collected two weeks ago, is concerned by the high number of identified mutations, which is why it was classified as risk by the WHO, which points to the need for special monitoring by laboratories around the world.

*With information from EFE.