The new Corona variant Omikron is causing concern in many places in Europe, and now the numbers are also increasing in South Africa.
An expert explains that younger people in particular are affected by the virus.
Johannesburg - As if the corona pandemic hadn't given enough experts and doctors cause for concern before the approaching winter, now, at the end of November, the news of a new Corona variant Omikron is causing concern.
While Moderna employees are already working feverishly on a vaccine, the WHO rated the risk from the mutation as very high.
Now the new variant is also noticeable in South Africa, with the number of infections skyrocketing.
Danger, course, treatment: new Corona variant Omikron is driving up numbers in South Africa
The new Corona variant Omikron was first discovered in South Africa. Although the number of infections was comparatively low in the country, the new mutation is already noticeable there. South African virologist Salim Abdool Karim expects the numbers to rise by around 10,000 new cases by the end of the week. The virologist also expects a rapid increase in the numbers in December and also an aggravated situation in the clinics. However, there is no reason to panic.
As the dpa further quotes the virologist, the appearance of the new Corona variant is not surprising from his point of view: "We had expected that - we just didn't know anything about how and when".
So far it is not clear how high the protection provided by previous vaccines is, but the expert assumes that the protection provided by the vaccine is still high.
The new Corona variant is therefore very easy to prove, an adaptation of the treatment methods is not necessary.
Omicron mutation discovered in South Africa - Younger people in particular are now affected
The South African Health Minister Joe Phaahla, who above all criticizes travel restrictions against several countries in southern Africa, sees no reason to panic. It is now much more important to thoroughly research the variant. The rise in the current numbers in South Africa should nevertheless give many experts cause for concern. While fewer than 300 daily case numbers were registered in mid-November, the numbers are now increasing sharply. As reported by local media, around 600 cases were registered on November 24 and around 1,500 cases on November 27.
As the South African Institute for Infectious Diseases NICD explains, it is currently mainly younger people who are affected.
In the number of deaths, however, there has been a rather small increase so far.
At the beginning of the discovery, a doctor had already reported other symptoms than previously known.
South Africa is numerically the hardest hit country in Africa by the pandemic.
So far, almost 3 million cases have been documented there.
Around 90,000 people died as a result of an infection.
Not much is known about the Omikron corona variant.
Experts as well as Karl Lauterbach have now also expressed themselves on a steep HIV thesis.
