The impacts of the new variant on infected people are not yet known, says researcher

the lineage B.1.1.529 of the new coronavirus, now dubbed Õmicron, was first identified in Botswana, southern Africa, and has worried scientists because it has many mutations that could confer advantages to the virus. According to Fiocruz researcher Marilda Siqueira, so far, the impacts of the new variant on infected people are not known.

“The whole process of what these mutations mean, in terms of increased transmissibility, potential cases of reinfection and how the vaccine’s response will be is still being studied. We still don’t have robust and concrete data to show about this new variant, which was predominantly discovered in South Africa. What you see there is an increase in the number of cases. However, the impact of the variant on hospitalizations and people who have already been vaccinated has not yet been determined”, said the researcher.

Marilda Siqueira also stated that the mutations present in the variant lead specialists to be very concerned about it.

“The variant has around 30 mutations in the spike protein gene and regions of other genes also have important mutations. Some of them were already present in other strains of concern that have been detected, but most of the mutations are new. The mutations found in some genes lead us to be very concerned about this variant”, said the researcher.