Omicron Variant: Three Graphs On Why It Could Be Worse Than Delta Covid Variant

Just when the world was inching towards some sort of normalcy restored, Covid-19 cases are spiking due to the infamous Omicron variant (B.1.1.529).

In fact, there's news emerging that Omicron variant of concern B.1.1.529 may be more dangerous than the Delta variant which caused India's deadly second wave of Covid-19 earlier this summer.

Reuters

Also Read: WHO Officially Names New COVID-19 Strain As 'Omicron', Classifies It As A 'Variant Of Concern'

There's a lot still unknown about the transmissibility of this new Omicron variant of coronavirus, but early reports indicate it to be at least six times more severe than the Delta variant.

According to a TOI report, experts fear that patients infected by the Omicron variant may not respond to monoclonal antibody therapy or cocktail treatments, evade immune system defences and cause breakthrough infections among fully vaccinated people.

Here are three graphs that try to explain just how bad Omicron variant can get:

Omicron better at mutating than other Variants of Concern

According to nference Labs, the Omicron variant is just better at mutating than all previous Covid variants of the past -- Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta variants.

Here is how B.1.1.529 (#Omicron #B11529) compares to Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta variants.

Omicron has highest novel Spike mutations including striking cluster on the "crown" suggesting significant selection pressure & antigenic distinction from prior strains

(Credits: nference) pic.twitter.com/4oZQbjhbG8

¡ª nference (@_nference) November 27, 2021

The tweet suggests that Omicron has highest novel Spike mutations including striking cluster on the "crown" suggesting significant selection pressure & antigenic distinction from prior strains.

Also Read: Omicron COVID-19 Variant: Pfizer, BioNTech Unsure About Vaccine Efficacy Against New Variant

In an email, nference Labs explained how Omicron has 26 unique 'spike' mutations, whereas no other Covid variant till date has had more than 10. The research conducted by nference Labs further suggests the Omicron variant is seemingly better at evading immune response as well.

Omicron cases spike in South Africa

Just like the Delta variant led to hospitalization and cases spiralling out of control in India earlier this summer, Omicron variant's spread is leading to something similar in South Africa right now, according to several reports.

Twitter

This graph above shared by a Twitter user underscores the Omicron case rise spike in South Africa, as it suddenly sees an insane upsurge in November 2021, becoming more dominant than any other Covid variant in the country.

Also Read: 'Covid 22 Has Entered The Chat': Omicron Variant Sparks Meme Fest On Twitter

Just look at that red line that's lying dormant all through January 2021 to October 2021, before spiking all through November 2021, scrambling the medical community to focus all attention on the Omicron variant.

Not a "mild" mutation

According to epidemiologist Dr Eric Feigl-Ding, the Omicron variant is not a "mild" variant to be taken lightly. Its mutation is quite something, according to his tweet:

12) When I see a ?mutation divergence tree like this, it gives me pause. #Omicron is leaps & bounds different than other #SARSCoV2 variants. Evolution selected this unique combination for a reason¡ªit wasn¡¯t a regular rate of accumulating mutation errors. This is why the caution. pic.twitter.com/uRxTraxcMl

¡ª Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) November 29, 2021

The Omicron variant is "leaps & bounds different than other SARSCoV2 variants," according to Feigl-Ding, as he threw caution to the wind.

In all probablity, early evidence trickling down the medical community suggests that the Omicron variant is going to cause some concern, as countries like Israel and others in EU start shutting down their physical borders once again. Please stay safe, wear a mask if you have to get out of the house and exercise social distancing in public places.

What are your concerns about the new Omicron variant? Let us know in the comments below, and keep reading latest science and technology news on Indiatimes.com.