The theory that scares scientists: The origin of the omicron in AIDS patients? | Israel today

The Omicron variant continues to haunt scientists and leaders and there are still many question marks around it.

Where did the 50-mutant variant come from?

There are three theories for the origin of the variant presented by Dr. Nadav Sorek, director of the Outbreak Diseases Laboratory at Assuta Ashdod Public Hospital.

Each theory has a different meaning regarding the implications of the variant and the extent of infection.

The first theory with a low probability is that Omicron is similar to the "original" strains of the virus from March 2020 and that for a year and a half the variant existed but we did not recognize it.

This is because in Africa less testing and less monitoring is done.

The second possibility is that this variant came to us from animals.

In early 2020 or even the end of 2019 the first transmission of the virus from animals (bats) to humans occurred and later returned to live, “turned around” and accumulated mutations and recently returned to humans by re-infection.

According to Dr. Sorek: "This is a pretty plausible theory and it is encouraging because it means that the many mutations we see as aimed at adapting to animals and will not necessarily present a more violent variant."

A third theory is moderately likely to be related to the fact that in South Africa there are many carriers of AIDS whose immune systems are weak. In such patients the virus stays in the body longer, continues to replicate and produce mutations that adapt to the immune system.

"This theory frightens us because it means that the virus has adapted itself to the immune system," says Dr. Sorek.

Were we wrong?

Fixed!

If you found an error in the article, we'll be happy for you to share it with us