Symptoms, incubation period and vaccine effect: the omicron truth in the fifth corona wave

Created: 01/16/2022, 11:38 am

By: Wolfgang Hauskrecht

Search for new variants: A technician from the University of Greifswald prepares sequencing samples.

© Jens Büttner/dpa

What are we dealing with in the corona mutation omicron?

With the help of a Munich doctor, we answer the most important questions - and what other variants are like.

Munich – After Delta and Omikron now Deltakron? The announcement of a new variant by the University of Cyprus burst into the middle of the ongoing omicron wave. But the all-clear came almost as quickly. Apparently, the university had made a technical error during sequencing - the supposed new mixed variant of delta and omicron was the result of contamination of samples in the laboratory. So it stays with Omikron for the time being - and that's enough. Because the variant of the corona virus is now also in a hurry in Germany. It's spreading faster and stronger. According to the Robert Koch Institute, the Omicron share of positive tests in Bavaria rose to 43 percent last week and is already over 85 percent in Bremen. We answer the most important questions about Omikron.

Corona: omicron mutation is more contagious - that's behind it

How contagious is the omicron variant?

"Previous study data indicate that Omicron is two to three times more infectious than Delta," says Dr.

Christoph Spinner, infectiologist and pandemic officer at the Munich University Hospital on the right side of the Isar.

The epidemiologist Timo Ulrichs explains in an ntv podcast why this is the case: "Due to the mutations on the spike protein, the ability to bind to the host cells in the human body is even better.

That means far fewer viruses are needed to trigger an infection.”

Incubation period and symptoms:

The incubation period, i.e. the time between infection and the first symptoms, is probably shorter, and reliable data is still missing. "In the event of an infection, the first symptoms appear three days after contact with the infected," says Spinner. You can be contagious even before the first symptoms appear. It is still unclear whether the duration of infectivity is shorter than with other variants, explains Spinner. According to the Robert Koch Institute, the symptoms are mainly a cold, cough and sore throat, sometimes loss of appetite, tiredness and sweating - but not a loss of taste and smell as with Delta. Omicron also affects the nose and throat rather than the lungs. Symptoms often appear earlier in unvaccinated people because the immune system reacts more slowly. That also meansthat vaccinated rapid tests can show a negative result despite an infection because of the lower virus load.

Omicron variant: Why the double vaccination protection is suddenly not enough

How well does vaccination against omicron work?

Even the basic vaccination provides good protection against severe courses – but not against an infection.

The virologist Christian Drosten refers to a preprint study from Denmark.

According to this, the risk of infection at Omikron is similarly high for those who have not been vaccinated and those who have been vaccinated twice - for those who have been boosted, the risk drops sharply by 54 percent.

“The vaccines are doing what they are supposed to.

They protect against severe courses," says Carsten Watzl, Secretary General of the German Society for Immunology.

Above all people over 65: According to a British analysis, the protection against admission to a clinic three months after the third vaccination is around 90 percent.

Why are the vaccines less effective?

“The vaccines were designed to target a specific sequence of the spike protein found on the surface of the virus.

However, there are now variants that have changed the spike protein at key points,” explains Sebastian Ulbert from the Fraunhofer Institute.

As a result, this new variant is no longer recognized as well by the immune system.

dr

Christoph Spinner, Pandemic Officer at the Klinikum Rechts der Isar of the Technical University of Munich.

© Angelika Warmuth/dpa/Archive

Corona infection by omicron: Why the course of the disease is usually less severe

How sick does omicron make you?

“Initial study data indicate less severe courses, especially in those who have been vaccinated and those who have recovered. This may also be due to the fact that severe pneumonia occurs less frequently with Omikron," explains Spinner. This reduces the likelihood of treatment with oxygen and/or in an intensive care unit. The majority of patients on the right side of the Isar have so far been infected with the delta variant. "However, we are observing a strong increase in the proportion of omicrons in those infected - by up to 90 percent."

Susanne Johna, head of the Marburger Bund, also confirms that Omikron rarely leads to the intensive care unit. But Johna warns: “It would be a mistake to only look at the utilization of the intensive care units during the omicron wave. The majority of cases have to be treated in the emergency rooms and on the normal wards.” She expects many omicron cases in clinics soon, which means a lot of effort. "They have to be isolated, some of them need oxygen and the staff have to put on protective clothing," says Johna. In Bavaria, 1,845 hospital beds were occupied by corona patients on Monday (12.3 percent fewer than in the previous week), an additional 502 intensive care beds (down 21.3 percent compared to the previous week).

At the beginning of December, almost 1110 corona patients had to be treated intensively, since then the number has been falling.

In Bavaria, the hospitalization incidence recently fell to 2.3.

That means: 2.3 out of 100,000 Bavarians had to go to the hospital in the past seven days.

At the peak of the fourth wave in November, there were four times that number.

Boosters of the booster vaccination?

Regular refresher courses for risk groups seem sensible

Do rapid tests work at Omikron?

The Paul Ehrlich Institute is currently testing the effectiveness of rapid tests.

The result so far: around 80 percent of the tests are suitable for detecting omicrons.

Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach has announced a positive list for rapid tests that recognize the omicron variant well.

When is the modified vaccine coming?

The head of the Paul Ehrlich Institute, Klaus Cichutek, assumes that an adapted vaccine will be available by June at the latest. It is the turn of the manufacturers of the mRNA vaccines, and the approval process has already begun at the same time. However, it is not yet clear whether it will be a simple adjustment only to Omikron, or whether vaccines should be selected and adjusted right away “that have a broader effect”.

Will the booster booster be necessary?

"The many antibodies that you have after the booster are lost again over time," says immunologist Watzl.

In view of the fact that there are still vaccination gaps, regular boosters could remain useful for risk groups.

In the case of younger and healthy people, it is conceivable that no regular refresher is necessary – as long as the virus does not change significantly.

Israeli data on the fourth vaccination only recently showed that the effect fizzled out again relatively quickly.

Corona sticking point and decisive for the end of the pandemic: other possible virus variants

Are other variants likely?

"It is likely that further variants will occur if the number of infections remains high," says Spinner. "It is conceivable that these variants will be more infectious or more pathogenic - in the worst case both together." Nevertheless, the cellular immunity of those who have been vaccinated and those who have recovered will offer protection against such new virus variants.

What medication can I take?

In the case of mild courses, medication is not necessary, says Spinner.

"Otherwise, depending on the symptoms, infected people can take common cold remedies such as antipyretics or painkillers." And you should drink a lot of water.

According to Spinner, treatment with molnupiravir capsules over five days can be considered for people with risk factors such as obesity, diabetes mellitus, or who are over 60 years of age.

This is particularly useful for unvaccinated people.

"In the near future, therapy with nirmatrelvir (Paxlovid) or the neutralizing antibody sotrovimab can be used as an alternative, although both are not yet available."

Meanwhile, a supposed Corona miracle weapon from Munich recently caused a stir: researchers reported an important breakthrough.