PMQs: May says 'omicron is less serious than previous variants'
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Anecdotal reports from South Africa have consistently shown the Omicron variant only causes mild symptoms. Now, scientists and leading health experts are in agreement that Omicron may actually be a blessing in disguise and could even be more effective than a vaccine.
The Omicron variant could be seen as much needed good news since the Covid pandemic began.
Experts have dubbed it a natural vaccine due to its high levels of antibodies without the debilitating symptoms.
In South Africa, where Omicron was first detected back in November, infection rates have been dropping rapidly.
Most experts believe the Omicron wave has now passed and other countries should expect the same cycle in the next few months.
Scientists have noted the Omicron variant has been acting as a natural vaccine for tens of millions of people around the world as most infected people have no or very mild symptoms, yet their bodies do produce full antibodies.
Antibodies are proteins produced as part of the body’s immune response to infection.
They help eliminate disease-causing microbes from the body such as a Covid infection.
Dr Vishal Sehgal, president of medical services at Portea MeMedical in India, told the Times of India that “Omicron acts as a natural vaccine and proves beneficial as it is less life-threatening.”
The high level of contagiousness, paired with very mild symptoms, may make Omicron a blessing in disguise.
In fact, some even hypothesise there may no need to get vaccinated anymore, just get Omicron.
“We have to realise that Omicron is the beginning of the end of the pandemic, because Omicron is going to provide the kind of population immunity that should stabilise our societies and should allow us to reopen,” said molecular biologist Nicanor Austriaco.
The latest figures in South Africa, and a number of other countries, may offer the rest of the world a way out of Omicron, added Salim Abdool Karim, one of South Africa’s most important infectious diseases scientists.
Karim is convinced that “every other country, or almost every other, will follow the same trajectory”.
This rings true with latest statistics showing the rate of new infections consistently dropping over the last 30 days.
Early symptoms of the Omicron variant can include:
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Body aches
- Headache
- Night sweats
- Runny nose
- Scratchy throat.
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