Omicron variant
Omicron variant,[1] also known as B.1.1.529,[2] is a variant of SARS-CoV-2[3] first discovered in South Africa in late November 2021 with reported cases in several other countries. Currently, reportedly little is known about the mutations comprising Omicron.[4]
Several countries have banned travel with South Africa, prompting sharp criticisms due to the fact that scientists in South Africa had discovered the variant with advanced genome sequencing; the nation's Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation responded:[4]
| “ | Excellent science should be applauded and not punished. | ” |
—South Africa Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation, November 2021 | ||
Incumbent White House officeholder Joseph R. Biden, who called travel bans "racist,"[5] imposed a travel ban on eight African countries.[6]
Genome
The Omicron variant is unlikely to be related to the Alpha and Delta variants of coronavirus.[3] Instead, its mutations cause it to be distinct from the other strains of the virus. The mutations are likely to make the Omicron variant ineffective to combat by COVID vaccines, due to a potentially different "Spike" gene the vaccines are designed to target.[3]
References
- ↑ Da Silva, Chantal (November 26, 2021). WHO names new variant of concern 'omicron,' as scientists advise caution. NBC News via Yahoo. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
- ↑ Tidey, Alice (November 27, 2021). WHO labels new COVID-19 variant 'of concern', names it Omicron. Euronews. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Drake, John (November 28, 2021). What We Know About The Omicron Variant. Forbes. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Berger, Miriam (November 28, 2021). South Africa, which found the omicron variant first, sequences less than 1 percent of coronavirus samples. The Washington Post. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
- ↑ Richardson, Valerie (November 28, 2021). Nancy Mace blasts media double-standard on Biden, Trump COVID travel bans. Washington Times. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
- ↑ Kumar, Anugrah (November 28, 2021). Biden imposes travel ban from 8 African countries in response to Omicron COVID-19 variant. The Christian Post. Retrieved November 28, 2021.