An official of the world health Organisation Abdi Mahamud says more evidence is emerging, that the Omicron coronavirus variant, is affecting the upper respiratory tract.
“We are seeing more and more studies pointing out that Omicron is infecting the upper part of the body. Unlike other ones, the lungs who would be causing severe pneumonia,” WHO Incident Manager Abdi Mahamud told Geneva-based journalists.
This causes milder symptoms than previous variants, resulting in a decline between soaring numbers and death rates.
The variant that was detected in November 2021, has emerged in at least 128 countries, presenting dilemmas for many nations and people seeking to reboot their economies and lives after nearly two years of COVID-related disruptions.
“It can be good news, but we really require more studies to prove that.”
Mahamud’s revelation on the reduced risks of severe disease is in line with findings of a study from South Africa, where the variant was first detected.
He warned that Omicron’s high transmissibility meant it would become dominant within weeks in many places, posing a threat to medical systems in countries where a high proportion of the population remains unvaccinated.