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Smear for a corona test
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The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified the new Corona variant B.1.1.529 as "worrying".
This was announced by the UN authority after consulting with experts.
The EU disease protection authority ECDC had previously upgraded the variant.
B.1.1.529 will in future be called an omicron - after the 15th letter in the Greek alphabet.
According to the WHO definition, this classification is a signal that a variant is more contagious or leads to more severe disease courses.
In addition, with »worrying variants« there is a risk that conventional vaccinations, medication or corona measures will be less effective.
Omikron has a large number of mutations, some of which are worrisome, it said.
Preliminary indications indicated an increased risk of reinfection with this variant compared to other worrying variants, which also include the currently predominant delta variant.
According to the WHO, B.1.1.529 was discovered in South Africa using genetic analysis from November 9th.
Overall, the variant has so far been genetically detected less than 100 times.
It has many mutations that scientists believe could potentially lead to easier transmission.
However, according to the WHO, it will be weeks before it becomes clear what the exact effects of the mutations are.
So far, the international health authority had identified four "variants of concern": Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta, which contributed to the fourth wave of pandemics due to their high transferability.
In addition, two "variants of interest" are listed that appeared in South America at the turn of the previous year.
The European Commission, Germany and some other states announced on Friday that they would restrict entry from southern Africa.
Instead, WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier recommended scientifically sound measures and risk assessments on behalf of his organization.
"There are reservations about travel restrictions at this point," he said.
From the perspective of the WHO, damage to international traffic should be avoided.
Instead, the precise observation of the infection process and the genetic analysis of any corona cases should be relied on.
The South African Health Minister Joe Phaahla called the travel restrictions "unjustified".
So far it is unclear whether variant B.1.1.529 is more contagious than other variants, he said at a press conference.
mrc / dpa