Global risk related to Omicron is very high: WHO

As the world is preparing to battle with another mutated COVID-19 virus variant ‘Omicron’ the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Monday said that the COVID-19 variant is likely to spread internationally, posing a “very high” global risk of infection surges that could have “severe consequences” some areas.

“Omicron has an unprecedented number of spike mutations, some of which are concerning for their potential impact on the trajectory of the pandemic,” the WHO said.

“The overall global risk related to the new variant …is assessed as very high”, WHO said.

“Increasing cases, regardless of a change in severity, may pose overwhelming demands on health care systems and may lead to increased morbidity and mortality. The impact on vulnerable populations would be substantial, particularly in countries with low vaccination coverage,” it said.

The UN agency urged its 194 member states to accelerate vaccination of high-priority groups and, in anticipation of increased case numbers, to “ensure mitigation plans are in place” to maintain essential health services.

No Omicron-linked deaths had yet been reported, though further research was needed to assess its potential to escape protection against immunity induced by vaccines and previous infections, it added.

“The presence of multiple mutations of the spike protein in the receptor-binding domain suggests that Omicron may have a high likelihood of immune escape from antibody-mediated protection. However, immune escape potential from cell-mediated immunity is more difficult to predict,” it said.

“Overall, there are considerable uncertainties in the magnitude of immune escape potential of Omicron.”

“COVID-19 cases and infections are expected in vaccinated persons, albeit in a small and predictable proportion”, it added.

The variant was first reported to WHO on Nov. 24 from South Africa, where infections have risen steeply.

It has since spread around the world, with new cases found in the Netherlands, Denmark and Australia. The WHO, in its latest guidance, reiterated that countries should use a “risk-based approach to adjust international travel measures in a timely manner”.