Omicron may have reached Europe earlier than thought

This picture has been used for representational purpose. Pic/AFP

New findings indicate the mutant coronavirus was already in Europe close to a week before South Africa sounded the alarm. The Netherlands' RIVM health institute disclosed that patient samples dating from November 19 and 23 contained the variant. It was last Wednesday, November 24, that South African authorities reported the existence of the highly mutated virus to the World Health Organisation. That indicates omicron had a bigger head start in the Netherlands than previously believed.

Nigeria has detected its first case of omicron in a sample it collected in October, weeks before South Africa alerted the world, the country's national public health institute said Wednesday. "The pandemic has shown repeatedly that the virus travels quickly because of our globalized, interconnected world," said Dr Albert Ko, infectious disease specialist, Yale School of Public Health. Omicron demonstrates that until the vaccination drive reaches every country, "we're going to be in this situation again and again.

A WHO official said given the growing number of omicron cases, parts of southern Africa could soon see a steep rise in infections. "There is a possibility that really we're going to be seeing a serious doubling or tripling of the cases as we move along or as the week unfolds," said Dr Nicksy Gumede-Moeletsi, a WHO regional virologist."

WHO head hails member states

The head of the World Health Organisation has hailed steps by its member states to launch work toward an international agreement to help prevent and prepare for future pandemics in the wake of the coronavirus. Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the consensus decision was "cause for celebration".

WHO head hails member states

The head of the World Health Organisation has hailed steps by its member states to launch work toward an international agreement to help prevent and prepare for future pandemics in the wake of the coronavirus. Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the consensus decision was "cause for celebration".

WHO reports increase in some regions

The WHO says the rate of increase of coronavirus cases held steady over the last week, though its African, Western Pacific and European regions all reported gains. At the same time, new deaths globally linked to COVID-19 fell 10 per cent.

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