Virus

1. Omicron Coronavirus: What we know so far
Prof Ejaz A. Khan
Chief of Pediatrics and Infectious Diseases, Shifa International Hospital Islamabad

2. Origin and Spread
• Detected: South Africa and Botswana
• Travelers: Australia, Austria, Belgium,
Britain, Canada, Czech Republic,
Denmark, Germany, Israel, Italy, the
Netherlands and Hong Kong.
• Identified on Nov. 25 by scientists in
South Africa
• Preliminary tests suggest that it has
been spreading rapidly
• ? more contagious than other
variants

4. WHO
• On 26 November 2021
• Designated the variant B.1.1.529 a variant of concern (VOC)
• Named Omicron
• Omicron has several mutations
• Impact on how it behaves: How easily it spreads or the severity of
illness it causes
WHO’s Technical Advisory Group on Virus Evolution (TAG-VE).

5. THE VILLIAN?
• Omicron carries about 50 mutations not
seen in combination before
• Including >30 mutations on the spike protein
used to attach to human cells
• Mutations that are found in other variants of
concern and that are thought to make the
virus more infectiou
including D614G, N501Y and K417N
• ?Evade immunity from vaccines or infections

7. Transmissibility
• Not yet clear if Omicron is more transmissible (e.g., more easily spread
from person to person)
• Number of people testing positive has risen in areas of South Africa
affected by this variant
• Epidemiologic studies are underway to understand if it is because of
Omicron or other factors

8. Severity of disease
• Not yet clear if it causes more severe disease compared to infections with
other variants, including Delta
• Preliminary data
• Increasing rates of hospitalization in South Africa ?specific infection with Omicron.
• Symptoms associated with Omicron?
• Initial reported infections were among university students—younger individuals who
tend to have more mild disease

9. Prior COVID and Vaccination
• Effectiveness of prior SARS-CoV-2 infection
• Preliminary evidence: Increased risk of reinfection with Omicron (ie, people who have
previously had COVID-19 could become reinfected more easily with Omicron)
• Effectiveness of vaccines
• WHO is working with technical partners to understand this potential impact of this variant
on existing countermeasures, including vaccines.
• Vaccines remain critical to reducing severe disease and death, including against the
dominant circulating variant, Delta.
• Current vaccines remain effective against severe disease and death.

10. Testing and Treatment
• Effectiveness of current tests
• The widely used PCR tests continue to detect infection, including infection with Omicron
• Studies are ongoing to determine whether there is any impact on other types of tests,
including rapid antigen detection tests.
• Effectiveness of current treatments
• Corticosteroids and IL6 Receptor Blockers will still be effective for managing patients with
severe COVID-19
• Other treatments ??

11. Studies underway
• WHO is coordinating with researchers around the world to better
understand Omicron
• Studies currently underway or underway shortly include assessments of
transmissibility, severity of infection, performance of vaccines and
diagnostic tests, and effectiveness of treatments
• More information will emerge in the coming days and weeks

12. Recommended actions for countries
• Enhancing surveillance and sequencing of cases
• Sharing genome sequences (GISAID)
• Reporting initial cases or clusters
• Performing field investigations and laboratory assessments
• Implement the effective public health measures
• COVID-19 vaccines for vulnerable groups everywhere, including health
workers and older persons

13. Recommended actions for people
• Follow, believe and spread facts and information
• The most effective steps
• Keep a physical distance of at least 1 metre from others
• Wear a well-fitting mask
• 0pen windows to improve ventilation
• Avoid poorly ventilated or crowded spaces
• Keep hands clean
• Cough or sneeze into a bent elbow or tissue
• Get vaccinated

14. Pakistan
• Several centers including NIH, AKU, Karachi University and others
doing genomic sequencing to detect OMICRON

15. NCOC

16. CONCLUSIONS
• A new mutated SARS-CoV2
• Worrying features
• Full impact still unclear
• Vigilance, surviellance required
• SOPs need to be followed at all times
• Get vaccinated please
• Expect more information in days and weeks ahead
• Believe in science and facts only
• Stay tuned!