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MORE evidence is emerging that Omicron affects the upper respiratory tract, causing milder symptoms than the previous variant, a World Health Organization (WHO) official said Tuesday (1/04).
“We are seeing more and more studies showing Omicron infects the upper respiratory tract. Unlike the others, it can cause severe pneumonia,” said WHO Incident Manager Abdi Mahamud who added it could be ‘good news’.
But, he added, high Omicron transmission means it will become the dominant variant in the next few weeks in many places, posing a threat in countries where large portions of the population remain unvaccinated.
His statement on reducing the risk of severe disease is combined with other data including a study from South Africa, which was one of the first countries where the Omicron variant was detected.
Only, Mahamud also cautioned, South Africa as an “exception” for having a young population among other factors.
Asked whether there was a need for a special Omicron vaccine, Mahamud said, it was too early to say. But, he stressed, the decision requires global coordination and should not be left to the commercial sector to decide on its own. [sources/photo special]
