Omicron spread rapid, sheer numbers can overwhelm: WHO
đ´ WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus flagged that while 77 countries have now reported cases of Omicron, the reality is that Omicron is probably in most countries, even if it hasnât been detected yet.
âWeâre concerned that people are dismissing Omicron as mild... Even if Omicron does cause less severe disease, the sheer number of cases could once again overwhelm unprepared health systems,â he said.
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The World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday warned that highly transmissible Omicron variant is spreading at a rate not seen with any previous variant of Covid-19 â underlining that even if it causes less severe disease, âthe sheer number of cases could once again overwhelm unprepared health systemsâ.
On Tuesday, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, during the media briefing on Covid-19, also flagged that while 77 countries have now reported cases of Omicron, the reality is that Omicron is probably in most countries, even if it hasnât been detected yet. âOmicron is spreading at a rate we have not seen with any previous variant,â Tedros said.
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âWeâre concerned that people are dismissing Omicron as mild⌠Even if Omicron does cause less severe disease, the sheer number of cases could once again overwhelm unprepared health systems,â he said.
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Debate on booster shot
While some countries are rolling out booster programmes for their adult population, WHO has expressed concern at the lack of evidence for effectiveness of boosters against Omicron. It could lead to vaccine hoarding and exacerbate inequity, WHO says.
Highlighting that âvaccines alone will not get any country out of this crisisâ, Tedros said, âItâs not vaccines instead of masks. Itâs not vaccines instead of distancing. Itâs not vaccines instead of ventilation or hand hygiene. Do it allâŚâ
He further said there is âevolving evidenceâ that suggests a small decline in the effectiveness of vaccines against severe disease and death â and a decline in preventing mild disease or infection.
Tedros reiterated that WHO is not against booster. âWe are against inequity⌠Itâs a question of prioritisation⌠Giving boosters to groups at low risk of severe disease or death simply endangers the lives of those at high risk still waiting for primary doses.â
âOn the other hand, giving additional doses to people at high risk can save more lives than giving primary doses to those at low riskâŚâ Tedros said.
The WHO, in the latest technical briefing on Omicron, has said that based on current limited evidence, it appears that the new variant has a growth advantage over Delta.
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ââŚIt is likely that Omicron will outpace the Delta variant where community transmission occurs. There are still limited data⌠While preliminary findings from South Africa suggest it may be less severe than Delta, and all cases reported in the EU/EEA to date have been mild or asymptomatic, it remains unclear to what extent Omicron may be inherently less virulent,â it said.
Kaunain Sheriff M is an award-winning investigative journalist and the National Health Editor at The Indian Express. He is the author of Johnson & Johnson Files: The Indian Secrets of a Global Giant, an investigation into one of the worldâs most powerful pharmaceutical companies.
With over a decade of experience, Kaunain brings deep expertise in three areas of investigative journalism: law, health, and data. He currently leads The Indian Express newsroomâs in-depth coverage of health.
His work has earned some of the most prestigious honours in journalism, including the Ramnath Goenka Award for Excellence in Journalism, the Society of Publishers in Asia (SOPA) Award, and the Mumbai Press Clubâs Red Ink Award.
Kaunain has also collaborated on major global investigations. He was part of the Implant Files project with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), which exposed malpractices in the medical device industry across the world. He also contributed to an international investigation that uncovered how a Chinese big-data firm was monitoring thousands of prominent Indian individuals and institutions in real time.
Over the years, he has reported on several high-profile criminal trials, including the Hashimpura massacre, the 2G spectrum scam, and the coal block allocation case. Within The Indian Express, he has been honoured three times with the Indian Express Excellence Award for his investigationsâon the anti-Sikh riots, the Vyapam exam scam, and the abuse of the National Security Act in Uttar Pradesh. ... Read More
