Wrong to call Omicron mild: WHO

Warning that it’s wrong to consider Omicron as causing mild disease, the World Health Organisation warned on Tuesday that the new coronavirus variant was spreading at an unprecedented rate and was likely already present in most countries around the world.

Since the new, heavily-mutated variant was first detected in southern Africa last month, it has been reported in 77 countries, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters.

Also read:

• Pfizer says Covid-19 pill near 90% effective against Omicron

• Covid: Data from South Africa indicates Omicron is milder, better at evading vaccines

But, he stressed, the reality is that Omicron is probably in most countries, even if it hasn’t been detected yet. “Omicron is spreading at a rate we have not seen with any previous variant,” he said.

His comments came amid growing evidence that the new variant might also be better at skirting vaccine protections than previous ones, but could cause milder symptoms. — afp

But Tedros cautioned against “dismissing Omicron as mild”.

“Surely, we have learned by now that we underestimate this virus at our peril,” he said.

“Even if Omicron does cause less severe disease, the sheer number of cases could once again overwhelm unprepared health systems.”