The new variant B.1.1.529 of Covid, detected for the first time in southern Africa, was classified Friday of
"concern"
by the World Health Organization (WHO), and named
"Omicron"
.
Read also Covid-19: B.1.1.529, this disturbing variant identified in South Africa
“The B.1.1.529 variant was first reported to WHO by South Africa on November 24, 2021 (...). This variant has a large number of mutations, some of which are worrying, ”
said the group of experts tasked by the WHO to monitor the evolution of Covid-19.
At this point, South African scientists are unsure of the effectiveness of existing vaccines against this new variant.
Cases have been reported in neighboring Botswana and Hong Kong, on a person returning from a trip to South Africa, but also in Israel.
A case was also detected in Belgium, the first in Europe.
