More Alarming Variants After Omicron Possible, Scientists Say
Expect more Greek letters heading your way
Scientists cautioned the public that Omicron may not be the endgame of this pandemic
More alarming variants of SARS-CoV-2 may emerge worldwide, so we need to patch up the holes in vaccination campaigns or else
Omicron is likely the fastest-spreading COVID-19 variant to date
It is even faster than Delta yet deemed to be less severe, especially among the vaccinated
Its ability to spread quickly is associated with mutations that can dodge vaccine protection and natural immunity
However, following other preventive measures can still work against the variant
Many theories surround the next event in this pandemic
One is that Omicron may render future variants less impactful
With so many cases worldwide, we can expect a lot of survivors now equipped with "anti-Omicron" antibodies
Another theory is the possibility of localized herd immunity
Since the variant has spread COVID-19 to most territories, there's a chance a community obtained the threshold. Though, no solid proof has been found
The other theory is a deadlier variant with the combined talents of Delta and Omicron
This one can potentially cripple the healthcare system even with vaccines available
If true, its talents can allow it to spread like lighting as Omicron and kill people with the highest odds like Delta
Let's hope the coronavirus won't mutate into something like this
"The faster omicron spreads, the more opportunities there are for mutation, potentially leading to more variants," said Leonardo Martinez, an infectious disease epidemiologist at Boston University, as per AP News
Research shows that Omicron spreads two times faster than Delta and four times quicker than the original strain
It also has a better chance of reinfecting survivors and breakthrough infections among vaccinated people
Imagine what more it can do in those who haven't received a single vaccine dose
At Johns Hopkins University, infectious disease expert Dr. Stuart Campbell Ray said that long, persistent infections seem to be the breeding grounds for new variants
Omicron alone, the virus can easily jump between the vaccinated, the unvaccinated, and people with compromised immune systems
Since it has nothing else to do, the virus gets to study the different biological backgrounds of many people
This can support mutation
According to Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center, many countries remain b elow 50% of fully vaccinating their population
Included are Indonesia at 15.1% fully vaccinated, Madagascar at 2.8%, Sudan at 2.9%, Iraq at 15.5%, and Venezuela at 40.7%
Dr. Prabhat Jha of the Center for Global Health Research at St. Michael's Hospital said that areas with many unvaccinated populations are "basically variant factories"
What do you think will happen next after Omicron?
Will the next deadly variant serve as the real wake-up call?
Share your thoughts in the comment section
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