Omicron｜When the new crown pneumonia becomes an endemic disease, will the epidemic end one day?

The rise in vaccination rates, the availability of therapeutic drugs, and the relaxation of epidemic prevention measures in various countries, just as many people expect that the new crown pneumonia epidemic will finally come to an end, the new variant virus Omicron (奥米克荣) variant virus suddenly appeared, making people caught off guard—— The virus is rapidly spreading in some areas, sounding a strong signal that the epidemic is not over yet.

On November 25, the WHO announced that it had listed the B.1.1.529 variant as a "notable" virus strain, and officially named it Omicron, and the Omicron storm was immediately triggered around the world.

The Omicron variant is currently spreading rapidly in parts of South Africa, and has been found in several European countries, Israel and Hong Kong.

Like the Delta variant, if the virus has a higher contagious capacity as said, the virus will inevitably appear around the world one day and become the mainstream, just as Delta replaced the Alpha variant that was first discovered in the UK in 2020 and became today's mainstream new coronavirus. Same.

The picture shows a newspaper stall in Pretoria, South Africa on November 27. The boss is showing the front page of the new crown pneumonia variant virus that day.

(AP)

There is a chance that the virus will make mistakes in the process of replication. As the virus continues to circulate in the community and expand the infection, the possibility of mutation will almost certainly appear.

Especially in Africa, where vaccine distribution and vaccination rates are much lower than those in rich countries.

According to a statement made by Moderna Pharmaceuticals on the 26th, the new virus Omicron variant contains the mutations found in the Delta and Beta variants. The combination of mutations means that the virus may simultaneously increase the infectivity and reduce the protective efficacy of the vaccine.

After the news of the new variant virus came out, the global stock market fell one after another, showing that all countries are concerned about the new Omicron variant virus.

Omicron｜Israel banned foreigners from entering the country on the 29th and became the first country to deal with new variants of Omicron｜Netherlands: 61 passengers in South Africa are confirmed to be infected with the new variant of Omicron｜Germany and Italy have successively found cases of infection with the new variant of Omicron in the Czech Republic ｜Fauci: There may already be new variant virus strains in the United States

Future outlook of the epidemic

However, this also anticipates the development of the new crown epidemic in the future. Amesh Adalja, a disease prevention expert at the Johns Hopkins University Health and Safety Center, said that the virus will only mutate, but not every one will appear important. Tracking new variants Determining the danger will be an important task.

"As the virus becomes an endemic disease, it is unlikely that the global new crown pneumonia will present a zero threat." "But when the virus is successfully controlled, that is, through herd immunity, it will become no longer threatening and will no longer threaten hospitals. When capacity is available, global public health restrictions will be loosened."

Pharmaceutical companies that develop vaccines such as Modena and Pfizer have also begun research on Omicron.

BioNTech issued a statement on the 26th, stating that it will bring more laboratory data within two weeks at the latest.

Modena's statement also pointed out that they have established a comprehensive strategy in early 2021 to deal with the mutant virus.

Both Modena and Pfizer use mRNA technology to theoretically develop and produce vaccines that are effective against variant viruses faster, which means that boosters against variant viruses may appear in the future.