Variant concern

 Just when people were trying to get back to normal after vaccinations had led to reduction in covid-19 and relaxation of pandemic SOPs, another front was opened when a mutant virus appear that is more evasive and infectious. The new mutant-Omicron- has become India’s steadily rising virus. Fresh cases were being reported from Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Delhi Gujarat and Karnataka where a total of 25 cases were reported. Most of those who tested positive for the new variant had either recently arrived from African countries or were in contact with such people. As fears of the new variant have engulfed the nation, one question that needs to be answered- Is India prepared to tackle the spread of the growing Omicron variant? Health experts in India say that one of the most concerning things about this new variant is its transmissibility rate. While experts have been warning of its low virulence, there is a fear that it may cause more infections than any previous variant. According to the World Health Organization’s chief scientist, the Omicron variant could become dominant because it is highly transmissible. WHO concluded that it was possible for Omicron to become a dominant variant even as it continues to mutate though not as deadly as other variants such as the Delta variant. Scientists say that symptoms, as of now, were mild by pointing out that all Omicron related cases were found to have mild symptoms so far. Can the impending third wave of the coronavirus pandemic and discovery of the Omicron variant negatively impact Indian carriers? Well, the jury is still out with industry insiders saying that domestic operations are likely to remain largely unaffected with some impact visible only on international operations that anyway remain suspended. As it is still early days, it’s time to wait and watch. However, if there is a significant spike in the number of cases, the maximum impact will be on international travel. Domestic travel will be impacted to a much lesser extent and there is no saying what will happen if Omicron transmission reaches a level of concern. However, states like Karnataka and Delhi have reported Omicron cases of people without travel history. This has set health authorities in trying to weigh in the pros and cons about more stringent travel advisories within and banning international flights all again. This issue assumes serious implications since already 57 countries are currently recording more Omicron cases. The Omicron variant has been reported in 57 nations, with Covid cases rising in southern Africa including Zimbabwe, and the number of patients needing hospitalisation is likely to rise as it spreads, the World Health Organization said. The WHO, in its weekly epidemiological report, said more data was needed to assess the severity of disease caused by the Omicron variant and whether its mutations may reduce protection from vaccine-derived immunity. What the WHO has said , that even if the severity is equal or potentially even lower than for Delta variant, it is expected that hospitalizations will increase if more people become infected and that there will be a time lag between an increase in the incidence of cases and an increase in the incidence of deaths. This should make health authorities sit up and take note.