JOHANNESBURG \u2014 As the world grapples with the emergence of the new highly transmissible variant of COVID-19, worried scientists in South Africa \u2014 where omicron was first identified \u2014 are scrambling to combat its lightning spread across the country.<\/p>\n
In the space of two weeks, the omicron variant has sent South Africa from a period of low transmission to rapid growth of new confirmed cases. The country\u2019s numbers are still relatively low, with 2,828 new confirmed cases recorded Friday, but omicron\u2019s speed in infecting young South Africans has alarmed health professionals.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re seeing a marked change in the demographic profile of patients with COVID-19,\u201d Rudo Mathivha, head of the intensive care unit at Soweto\u2019s Baragwanath Hospital, told an online press briefing.<\/p>\n
\u201cYoung people, in their 20s to just over their late 30s, are coming in with moderate to severe disease, some needing intensive care. About 65% are not vaccinated and most of the rest are only half-vaccinated,\u201d said Mathivha. \u201cI\u2019m worried that as the numbers go up, the public health care facilities will become overwhelmed.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said urgent preparations are needed to enable public hospitals to cope with a potential large influx of patients needing intensive care.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know we have a new variant,\u201d said Mathivha. \u201cThe worst-case scenario is that it hits us like delta … we need to have critical care beds ready.\u201d<\/p>\n
What looked like a cluster infection among some university students in Pretoria ballooned into hundreds of new cases and then thousands, first in the capital city and then to nearby Johannesburg, South Africa\u2019s largest city.<\/p>\n
Studying the surge, scientists identified the new variant that diagnostic tests indicate is likely responsible for as many as 90% of the new cases, according to South Africa\u2019s health officials. Early studies show that it has a reproduction rate of 2 \u2014 meaning that every person infected by it is likely to spread it to two other people.<\/p>\n
The new variant has a high number of mutations that appear to make it more transmissible and help it evade immune responses. The World Health Organization looked at the data on Friday and named the variant omicron, under its system of using Greek letters, calling it a highly transmissible variant of concern.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a huge concern. We all are terribly concerned about this virus,\u201d Professor Willem Hanekom, director of the Africa Health Research Institute, told The Associated Press.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis variant is mostly in Gauteng province, the Johannesburg area of South Africa. But we\u2019ve got clues from diagnostic tests … that suggest that this variant is already all over South Africa,\u201d said Hanekom, who is also co-chair of the South African COVID Variant Research Consortium.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe scientific reaction from within South Africa is that we need to learn as much as soon as possible. We know precious little,\u201d he said. \u201cFor example, we do not know how virulent this virus is, which means how bad is this disease that it causes?\u201d<\/p>\n
A key factor is vaccination. The new variant appears to be spreading most quickly among those who are unvaccinated. Currently, only about 40% of adult South Africans are vaccinated, and the number is much lower among those in the 20- to 40-year-old age group.<\/p>\n
South Africa has nearly 20 million doses of vaccines \u2014 made by Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson \u2014 but the numbers of people getting vaccines is about 120,000 per day, far below the government\u2019s target of 300,000 per day.<\/p>\n
As scientists try to learn more about omicron, the people of South Africa can take measures to protect themselves against it, said Hanekom.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a unique opportunity. There\u2019s still time for people who did not get vaccinated to go and get the vaccine, and that will provide some protection, we believe, against this infection, especially protection against severe infection, severe disease and death,\u201d he said. \u201cSo I would call on people to vaccinate if they can.\u201d<\/p>\n
Some ordinary South Africans have more mundane concerns about the new variant.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve seen increasing numbers of COVID-19, so I\u2019ve been worried about more restrictions,\u201d said Tebogo Letlapa, in Daveyton, eastern Johannesburg. \u201cI\u2019m especially worried about closing of alcohol sales because it\u2019s almost festive season now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Source: Voice of America<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"