PAHO: Omicron variant found in Americas region

The Director of PAHO – Pan American Health Organization – Dr Carissa Etienne, on Wednesday, informed that two cases of Omicron variant were reported in the Americas region nation – Canada and Brazil.    

“Canada & Brazil are the only countries in our region where the Omicron variant has been detected, but it is likely that other nations will begin seeing this new variant in circulation soon,” she added.  

The Director further highlighted that yet enough information had not been gathered about the new COVID-19 variant, citing that it is still too early to detect the predict the impact of the new variant in the region. 

She further stated that the organisation is looking to collect as much as data it can have to determine the depth of Omicron. 

The researchers all around the South African nations are gathering data to know how transmissible the new variant is and its impact. 

Apart from this, the Director addressed the issue of HIV aids on World Aids day while highlighting the difficulty faced in its treatment during the times of the COVID-19 outbreak.   

The low COVID-19 vaccination rate in the region makes it vulnerable to the emergence of the new coronavirus variant. 

About Omicron:  

The new variant was founded first on November 24, 2021, in the South African nations, initially known as (B.1.1.529).  

It has been – identified in – Botswana, Belgium, Hong Kong and Israel. 

World Health Organisation – WHO, has put it into the category of ‘most-troubling category of Covid-19′. 

This new COVID-19 variant has been found in the following 23 nations: 

1. Botswana
2. South Africa
3. Nigeria
4. United Kingdom
5. South Korea
6. Australia 
7. Austria 
8. Belgium 
9. Brazil
10. Czech Republic
11. France 
12. Germany 
13. Hong Kong 
14. Israel 
15. Italy 
16. Japan
17. Netherlands
18. Norway 
19. Spain 
20. Portugal 
21. Sweden 
22. Canada 
23. Denmark. 

The list was released by the WHO. Rumours are also that this variant decreases the efficacy rate of the COVID-19 vaccines.