We know that as viruses evolve, they become less severe, says South African Dr Angelique Coetzee, who previously raised the alarm over the Omicron variant.
Highlight
- There are over 30 mutations in Omicron, which are very different from delta-beta, says Dr. Coetzee from South Africa.
- South Africa’s cases didn’t rise immediately, says doctor, but they started rising this week
- He said that around November 18, I saw more patients with more or less similar symptoms.
South African Dr. Angelique Coetzee, who was the first to alert government scientists about a possible new covid variant omicron, speaks about the new covid variant that the world is worried about, especially one country in European countries After that a surge is being observed. Changing existing protocols to fight infectious disease.
Speaking to ANI, Coetzee said, “At first we thought maybe it might be a viral infection, but when we tested, people were found to be Covid positive. Notably, around November 18, I found more or less the same Saw more patients with symptoms. I alerted the advisory committee. There was a strange thing going on in our labs and RTPCR tests.”
“I was shocked … I was thinking what we were going to do as we hadn’t seen, for a few weeks, now COVID patients,” she said.
“The infection rate in South Africa was less than 1%. We had expected cases, but in late December-January at the beginning of the festive season. Common viral infections,” said Angelique Coetzee.
“Last week it was confirmed that South Africa has seen a new variant. I think this variant has been around for a while. Not in South Africa but maybe in other countries because the number of infections in other countries has increased significantly. Growth is being seen,” Coetzee noted.
“It has more than 30 mutations, which are very different from delta-beta. When scientists announced the new version, they said they didn’t understand everything yet,” said Angelique Coetzee.
Speaking further on the new version, Coetzee said, “They’re just sequencing it. What we know at the moment is that RT-PCR tests will be able to pick it up, rapid tests will be able to confirm that you have There is COVID and if you look at the clinical symptoms, that symptom is not the same as delta, you can safely assume that it is omicron.”
“If you look at the clinical picture again, we know that as viruses evolve, they become less severe. However, we weren’t sure what caused more than 30 mutations. So, For now, if we look at the clinical picture, it is mostly mild cases at the primary health level,” explained Angelique Coetzee.
Angelique Coetzee continued, “There is no dispute about the fact that there will be patients who will have severe infections, but there will be very few at this stage that we are operating on.”
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Angelique Coetzee warned, “Since November 18, cases in South Africa have not increased immediately, but this week they have started to rise and the increase has been significant. So we know this is a rapidly spreading virus. “
“For now, we know that vaccines will protect you from disease at this stage because people who have been vaccinated tend to have mild disease, regardless of age group and co-morbidities,” said Angelique Coetzee.
“So, that’s what we say. It’s lighter than the delta version at the primary health care level. At the hospital level, that picture may change but these are very early days, there aren’t a lot of admissions to hospitals yet,” Angelique Coetzee said.
“Symptoms would mostly be fatigue. It would be body aches and pains. Some of them had quite severe headaches and fatigue. But none noted loss of smell/taste, a severely blocked nose or a severe temperature,” said the doctor. mentioned.
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