The public health physician and assistant director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Jarbas Barbosa, told the CNN this Friday (3) that the Ômicron variant of the new coronavirus can cause waves of transmission in several countries. According to him, groups of scientists are analyzing information from South Africa about the new strain.
“Initial information demonstrates that there is greater transmission potential with the Ômicron variant. This was also observed with the Delta variant. It is always a cause for concern, because it means that if this variant is dispersed, it could cause transmission waves in several countries”, he said.
For this reason, he argued that it is important to move forward with immunization against Covid-19. Furthermore, he reinforced the need to maintain prevention measures “while more information accumulates” about Ômicron.
“While we await information, we have to take the steps we know will help protect. Expand vaccination, complete the vaccination schedule, because whoever took only the first dose is not protected now”, he said.
“Those who completed the vaccination cycle, and did not take the booster dose, are not fully protected either. We cannot relax the measures that may work. [contra a Ômicron] like or use of masks ”.
Ômicron x Delta
The Delta variant, first detected in India in mid-2020, represents more than 90% of the reported Covid-19 cases worldwide. According to Jarbas, however, “it is possible that Ômicron will supplant Delta”.
“If you confirm the data that say she [Ômicron] has more ability to transmit, it is very likely that it will replace Delta. Genomic surveillance is important, expanding testing and genetic sequencing for each country to assess how Ômicron has behaved in relation to delta”, he said.
“It’s a hypothesis that can occur. That’s why we have to expand vaccination, guaranteeing complete vaccination for those who don’t have it, and maintain public health measures: use of masks, avoid crowding, wash hands.”
With the exception of Belo Horizonte, in Minas Gerais, all capitals already provide doses at health posts.
In the State of São Paulo, the government anticipated the application of the reinforcement by one month, from 5 to 4 months. The measure was also followed in Recife, in Pernambuco.
Currently, five cases of the Ômicron variant have been confirmed in Brazil, three in São Paulo and two in the Federal District. According to the Ministry of Health, eight cases are under investigation, one in Minas Gerais, one in Rio de Janeiro and six in the Federal District. All patients are monitored by the Center for Strategic Information on Health Surveillance (CIEVS) in each state.
The first cases of the Ômicron variant of the new coronavirus in Brazil were confirmed on November 30 by the Instituto Adolfo Lutz, in São Paulo. The two cases are of a 41-year-old man and a 37-year-old woman who came from South Africa.
Confirmation was made using the genomic sequencing technique performed by the laboratory of the Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein and validated by Adolfo Lutz, a reference in Covid-19.
The third case was confirmed in São Paulo on the 1st. According to the State Department of Health, a passenger from Ethiopia, who landed at Guarulhos Airport, on November 27 tested positive for the new variant.
On December 2, two other cases of Covid-19 associated with the Ômicron variant were identified in the Federal District. According to the DF Health Department, the two men arrived in Brazil from South Africa on November 27th.
Reference: CNN Brasil
