Recently, the mutant strain of the new crown "Omi Keron" has sounded a new global epidemic alert. "New mutant strains are suspected to evolve from AIDS patients", "New mutant strains may increase infectivity by 500%" and similar information flooded the Internet, and many people panicked. So, where did the Omi Keron mutant strain come from? Is it so terrible? In this video, let’s understand them one by one.
First of all, where does the Omi Keron mutant strain come from?
The WHO stated in a statement that this latest mutant strain was first collected and confirmed in South Africa on November 9th, and the South African government reported to WHO for the first time on November 24th. On November 26, the WHO held an emergency meeting and listed it as a mutant strain that "needs attention" and named it Omicron (Omicron).
Did it evolve from AIDS patients? In fact, AIDS patients have immunodeficiency. After being infected with the new coronavirus, the virus in the body cannot be eliminated for a long time, which may indeed provide a breeding ground for the mutation of the new coronavirus. François Baru, a professor of biology at University College London in the United Kingdom, analyzed that the Omi Keron mutant strain carries a series of unusual mutations, which may have occurred during the chronic infection of a weakened immune system. , It may also come from an untreated AIDS patient.
On November 27, the scientific research team of the Children's Hospital of Rome, Italy released the world's first picture of the new variant of the new coronavirus strain Omi Keron. The Omi Keron strain has found more spike protein mutations than the Delta strain.
Does this mean that Omi Keron is more virulent and contagious? Symptoms are more severe after infection?
The WHO also responded to this question. On November 28, the World Health Organization announced on its official website that there are currently insufficient data to show that the new crown variant strain "Omi Keron" is more infectious than other variants including "Delta".
In addition, the WHO said that it is not yet clear whether the "Omi Keron" strain will cause more serious diseases than infection with other mutant strains such as "Delta". There is no information to indicate that the symptoms caused by "Omi Keron" are different from those caused by other variants. In order to understand the severity of infection with Omi Keron strain, it takes several days to several weeks.
After all, we must be vigilant in the face of the continuous mutation of the new crown virus, but we need not panic blindly. For ordinary people, public health and epidemic prevention measures such as wearing masks and maintaining social distancing are effective for all mutant strains.