The omicron variant in Europe: detected in Belgium and the United Kingdom and slope of confirmation in two other countries

The British Minister of Health, Sajid Javid, has announced at noon from this Saturday the Detection in the United Kingdom of the first two cases of the variant

The omicron variant in Europe: detected in Belgium and the United Kingdom and slope of confirmation in two other countries

The British Minister of Health, Sajid Javid, has announced at noon from this Saturday the Detection in the United Kingdom of the first two cases of the variant omicron of the coronavirus. They join the thirties that have been confirmed over the past two weeks. Not only in South Africa (the first country where he identified), but also in neighboring Botswana, in Hong Kong and in Belgium. But in the last hours, cases under study are multiplying by new states.

On Friday, Belgium became the first European Paris in detecting the presence of omicron in another contagious, an unvaccinated person who returned from Egypt, as he wrote on Twitter a famous Belgian virologist, Marc van Ranst.

Netherlands represents the main focus of concern right now. In Amsterdam, at least 61 passengers from the 600 passengers from two flights from South Africa gave Friday night in Coronavirus after landing. It is still being studied if they carry the new variant omicron.

In Germany, they are also alert: the omicron variant has most likely arrived, as reported by the Minister of Social Affairs of the Federal State of Hesse, Kai Klose, because characteristic mutations have been detected in a traveler from South Africa. "There is a high suspicion," said the minister.

This variant at the beginning was identified with Signature B.1.1.529 and Friday the World Health Organization, in addition to baptizing it, tagged it as "worrying" because it presents "an increased risk of infection". Its danger is due to 32 mutations in the Spike protein, the part of the Coronavirus that gives its characteristic form and is key to enter into human cells. Some of them appear for the first time, others were known but, above all, their combined effect is unknown.

Date Of Update: 27 November 2021, 10:48