Scientists from all across the globe are working to comprehend the Omicron form of Covid-19, which has sparked widespread concern and been designated as a Variant of Concern by the World Health Organization (WHO). While the Omicron version is thought to be more hazardous than others, it was the Delta variety that created havoc in various countries earlier this year, including India.
But, in comparison to the Delta variation, how different is the Omicron variety? Continue reading as we compare the two mutations that have become a worldwide problem.
Origin of Variant: Delta VS Omicron
The Omicron version was discovered in Botswana (on November 11) and South Africa three days later, with the latter reporting an increased number of cases caused by the novel Covid-19 form. Meanwhile, the Delta form was first discovered in India in December 2020, and it quickly spread throughout the nation before reaching the UK and the US. The Delta variation is presently the most common SARS CoV-2 variant, accounting for more than 99 percent of Covid-19 cases, according to Yale Medicine.
Mutational difference between Delta and Omicron
The Omicron form has more mutations than the Delta variant of Covid-19, according to gene sequencing. Researchers discovered 43 aa mutations in the Omicron version's spike proteins, compared to 18 in the Delta variant. According to Claudia Alteri, a professor of clinical microbiology at Milan State University and a researcher at Bambino Gesu, the high number of mutations does not necessarily imply that these variants are more dangerous, but rather that the virus has adapted to the human species by generating a new variant.
Vaccine effectiveness on Delta VS Omicron
A research published today in the Lancet found that the Covishield vaccination was successful in combating the fatal Delta strain during its outbreak in India, and that antibodies were developed as a result. Vaccines have been able to combat Delta on a global scale, but the same cannot be said for the Omicron form. Omicron may make vaccinations less effective, according to scientists, since it shares multiple important changes with two prior versions, Beta and Gamma, that rendered them immune to immunizations. This, however, is still under investigation.
Omicron contains 26 distinct mutations, several of which are in areas where vaccination antibodies are active. "So the actual issue is how transmissible Omicron is in comparison to Delta. That is the most important thing for us to understand "According to Reuters, John Moore, a professor of microbiology and immunology at New York's Weill Cornell Medical College.
Global Response to Omicron VS delta
Despite the fact that scientists are on high alert and research is picking up speed, no deaths have been documented as a result of the Omicron version. Due to a lack of readiness in combating the abrupt mutation, the Delta variant resulted in catastrophic deaths. While the Delta variation was initially discovered in India in December 2020, it resulted in an increase in cases by April 2021, peaking in May, with the majority of the population being unvaccinated, immunity to the variant was poor.
However, the worldwide reaction to Omicron has been rapid, with the WHO labeling it a variation of Concern only a few days after its discovery. Apart from reintroducing quarantines, other nations have imposed travel restrictions to and from South Africa since then. Immunity has increased since the Delta epidemic due to an increase in the number of persons who have been vaccinated. In the meanwhile, persons who have tested positive for Delta and recovered have produced antibodies to combat SARS-CoV-2.