JAKARTA - The World Health Organization (WHO) said the new variant of the Omicron coronavirus which has been found in more than 60 countries carries a very high global risk.
Some evidence suggests that the new variant reduces vaccine protection. However, according to the WHO quoted by Reuters via Antara, clinical data on the severity of the disease is still limited.
A considerable amount of ambiguity shrouds the variants that were first detected last month in South Africa and Hong Kong. Omicron mutations also lead to higher transmission and more COVID-19 cases.
"The overall risk associated with the new variant of concern, Omicron, remains very high for a number of reasons," the WHO said, reaffirming their first assessment on November 29.
"And second, preliminary evidence suggests a potential for humoral immune release against infection and high transmission rates, which could lead to subsequent spikes with severe consequences," the WHO said, referring to the ability of viruses to reduce antibody-mediated immunity.
The UN agency cited some preliminary evidence that the number of people re-infected with the virus had risen in South Africa.
Although preliminary findings from South Africa suggest that Omicron may have a lower severity than Delta – the currently dominant variant in the world – and all cases reported in the European region are mild or asymptomatic.
According to the WHO, it is unclear to what extent Omicron is "less virulent" than Delta. "More data are needed to understand its severity," the WHO continued.
"Even if the severity may be lower than the Delta variant, hospitalization rates are expected to rise as a result of increased transmission. More people hospitalized could burden the health system and lead to more deaths."
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