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- Title
Emerging evidence on Omicron (B.1.1.529) SARS‐CoV‐2 variant.
- Authors
Sharma, Vineet; Rai, Himanshu; Gautam, Dev N. S.; Prajapati, Pradeep K.; Sharma, Rohit
- Abstract
COVID's Omicron variant has sparked a slew of concerns across the globe. This review aims to provide a brief overview of what we know about the Omicron variant right now. The new variant has been discovered in 149 countries across all six World Health Organization (WHO) regions since its discovery in South Africa on November 24, 2021 and became the dominant variant in the country in less than 3 weeks. The WHO has warned that the B.1.1.529 variant is spreading at an unprecedented rate, and has urged countries to prepare for the worst. Over the course of this time, researchers from Africa and around the world have uncovered a wealth of information about the virus's epidemiology and biological properties. Case numbers are increasing exponentially in hard‐hit areas such as South Africa, United Kingdom, and USA (overtaking the delta variant), implying that the variant is highly transmissible. Initial research has provided some insights into the efficacy of vaccines against the Omicron variant and whether it produces major illness, however, much remains unknown, and additional work is needed to investigate what the initial reports represent in real‐world situations. Highlights: 1.The current Omicron (B.1.1.529) SARS‐CoV‐2 variant outbreak summary in the world is addressed.2.Up to date information on its emergence, epidemiology, genomics, replication, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and management strategies are discussed here.3.Omicron variant spike protein has a higher affinity for the human ACE2 receptor.4.Omicron has a significant effect on vaccine‐induced neutralizing antibody titers.5.The mutations in the Omicron receptor‐binding domain (RBD) have possible implications for the ongoing COVID pandemic.
- Subjects
SOUTH Africa; SARS-CoV-2; SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant; SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant; COVID-19 pandemic; COVID-19; WORLD Health Organization
- Publication
Journal of Medical Virology, 2022, Vol 94, Issue 5, p1876
- ISSN
0146-6615
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1002/jmv.27626