YouTube
Health officials say the first case of the omicron variant of COVID-19 has been identified in the US. The case was detected in one person in California, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“The individual was a traveler returning from South Africa on November 22,” the CDC said in a press release. good, is self-isolating and has tested positive. All close contacts have been contacted and tested negative.”
Cases of Omicron have been found in countries from Europe to the Middle East less than a week after the worrying new strain of the bacteria was first reported in South Africa. The United States has now joined that list, which has grown despite efforts by countries to use travel restrictions to keep the omicron variation outside their borders.
Multiple mutations of the omicron variant – including 26 to 32 in just the protein spike – have prompted the World Health Organization to say it poses a “very high” risk to global health. While cautioning that the evidence is still preliminary, WHO says The omicron mutations “may be associated with immune escape and higher transmissibility.”
News of the US omicron case in California comes after both President Biden and Dr Anthony Fauci, the president’s chief medical adviser, said they believed it was unlikely that the variant would emerge in the US. avoid. , and be vigilant about wearing masks.
“This variation is cause for concern – not cause for panic” Biden said.
South African officials have sounded the alarm about heavily mutated variant, B.1.1.529, on November 24, two days later, WHO classified it as a variant of concern and named it omicron.
A week after the alarm was raised, omicrons have been identified in at least 23 countries, the World Health Organization said on Wednesday.
People line up to be tested for COVID at a location in New York City on Monday. The new omicron variant, first discovered in South Africa, is rapidly spreading around the world.
Spencer Platt / Getty Images
hide captions
switch captions
Spencer Platt / Getty Images
People line up to be tested for COVID at a location in New York City on Monday. The new omicron variant, first discovered in South Africa, is rapidly spreading around the world.
Spencer Platt / Getty Images
On Monday, Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, issued an update on public health agency advice for those who should get a booster shot of the COVID-19 vaccine.
“Everyone 18 years of age and older should get a booster shot when they are 6 months after the initial Pfizer or Moderna series or 2 months after their initial J&J vaccination,” she said in a statement.
This statement supersedes previous guidance that said that people 18 years of age and older but under 50 years of age could receive booster shots and that others in certain risk groups or age 50 and older should receive the booster. booster drug.
The emergence of the omicron variant “further emphasizes the importance of vaccinations, boosters, and preventive efforts needed to protect against COVID-19,” Walensky said.
The omicron variation of large number of mutations quickly raised concerns that this version of the coronavirus could make it easier for COVID-19 to spread and more likely to re-infect people who already have COVID-19.
Researchers are working to learn more about how the omicron variant works, especially whether it is more likely to cause serious illness than other strains.
“It is not yet clear whether Omicron is more transmissible” or if it causes more severe disease, the World Health Organization said. say on sunday.
