World Health Organisation (WHO) has named the new COVID-19 variant B.1.1.529, which was detected in South Africa, as ‘Omicron’.
- According the WHO, the new variant may spread more quickly than other forms. The WHO said, preliminary evidence suggests there is an increased risk of reinfection and there had been a detrimental change in COVID-19 epidemiology.
- It said, infections in South Africa had risen steeply in recent weeks, coinciding with detection of the variant now designated as omicron.
- This variant has a large number of mutations, some of which are concerning. Preliminary evidence suggests an increased risk of reinfection with this variant, as compared to other (variants of concern).
Variant of Concerns
| WHO label | Pango lineage* | Earliest documented samples | Date of designation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpha | B.1.1.7 | United Kingdom, Sep-2020 | 18-Dec-2020 |
| Beta | B.1.351 | South Africa, May-2020 | 18-Dec-2020 |
| Gamma | P.1 | Brazil, Nov-2020 | 11-Jan-2021 |
| Delta | B.1.617.2 | India, Oct-2020 | VOI: 4-Apr-2021 VOC: 11-May-2020 |
| Omicron* | B.1.1.529 | Multiple countries, Nov-2021 | VUM: 24-Nov-2021VOC: 26-Nov-2021 |
GS TIMES IAS PRELIMS 2022 CURRENT AFFAIRS BASICS DAILY ONLINE TEST SERIES: HINDI AND ENGLISH
CLICK HERE DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS QUIZ FOR STATE CIVIL SERVICES
