Says the variant could have \u2018severe consequences\u2019 in some places
\n GENEVA
\nThe heavily mutated Omicron coronavirus variant is likely to spread internationally and poses a very high risk of infection surges that could have \u201csevere consequences\u201d in some places, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday.
\nNo Omicron-linked deaths had yet been reported, though further research was needed to assess its potential to resist vaccines and immunity induced by previous infections, it added.
\nAnticipating increased case numbers as the variant, first reported last week, spreads, the U.N. agency urged its 194 member states to accelerate vaccination of high-priority groups.
\n\u201cOmicron has an unprecedented number of spike mutations, some of which are concerning for their potential impact on the trajectory of the pandemic,\u201d the WHO said.
\n\u201cThe overall global risk …is assessed as very high.\u201d
\nTedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director-general, said Omicron\u2019s emergence showed how \u201cperilous and precarious\u201d the situation was.
\n\u201cOmicron demonstrates just why the world needs a new accord on pandemics,\u201d he told the start of an assembly of health ministers expected to launch negotiations on such an agreement.
\n\u201cOur current system disincentivizes countries from alerting others to threats that will inevitably land on their shores.\u201d
\nThe new global deal, expected by May 2024, would cover issues such as sharing of data and genome sequences of emerging viruses, and of any potential vaccines derived from research.
\nScientist Richard Hatchett, CEO of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), a foundation that funds vaccine development, said Omicron\u2019s emergence had fulfilled predictions that transmission of the virus in areas with low vaccination rates would speed its evolution.
\n\u201cThe inequity that has characterized the global response has now come home to roost,\u201d he told the talks, noting that Botswana and South Africa had fully vaccinated less than a quarter of their populations.
\n\u2018Overwhelming demand\u2019
\nOmicron was first reported on Nov. 24 from South Africa, where infections have risen steeply.
\nIt has since spread to more than a dozen countries, many of which have imposed travel restrictions to try to seal themselves off. Japan on Monday joined Israel in saying it would close its borders completely to foreigners.
\nThe WHO reiterated that, pending further advice, countries should use a \u201crisk-based approach to adjust international travel measures\u201d, while acknowledging that a rise in coronavirus cases might lead to higher morbidity and mortality rates.
\n\u201cThe impact on vulnerable populations would be substantial, particularly in countries with low vaccination coverage,\u201d it added.
\nIn vaccinated persons, meanwhile, \u201cCOVID-19 cases and infections are expected … albeit in a small and predictable proportion\u201d.
\nOverall, there were \u201cconsiderable uncertainties in the magnitude of immune escape potential of Omicron\u201d, and more data was expected in coming weeks.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Says the variant could have \u2018severe consequences\u2019 in some places GENEVA The heavily mutated Omicron coronavirus variant is likely to spread internationally and poses a very high risk of infection surges that could have \u201csevere consequences\u201d in some places, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday. No Omicron-linked deaths had yet been reported, though […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":230073,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[959,785,650],"class_list":{"0":"post-230050","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world","8":"tag-omicron","9":"tag-who","10":"tag-world"},"yoast_head":"\n