Data from the Genomic Surveillance Network of the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Genomahcov/Fiocruz) show that the Ômicron variant of Covid-19 was found in 17.6% of the samples sequenced in Brazil in December 2021. Of the 1,119 samples analyzed, 197 were from the new strain. In November, Ômicron corresponded to 0.1% of the total.
The Delta variant, which appeared in October 2020, is still responsible for most cases of the disease in Brazil, representing 82.3% of sequencing. Gamma, as well as other interesting variants, represent less than 0.5% of positive results in the country.
The researcher at the Oswaldo Cruz Institute (IOC) Paola Resende explains that these numbers are just a picture of the pandemic in Brazil, since the December data are still being deposited on the platform by the genomic surveillance institutes.
“These numbers for Ômicron can grow, as they can decrease. There is still no way to make a prediction, because sequencing takes time. So, these numbers for the month of December are still being updated. But this increase was expected. Ômicron has this characteristic of faster transmission, as we observed in the African continent in November of last year”, explains the specialist.
Genomahcov is a Fiocruz platform that brings together specialists from all of the foundation’s units in Brazil and from partner institutes, such as Adolfo Lutz. These research units monitor the coronavirus strains and genetic mutations and contribute to a better preparation of the country to face the pandemic in terms of more accurate diagnosis and effective vaccines.
Reference: CNN Brasil
