Cases from Omicron first of all reported from Netherland and then South Africa and it was reported that it is very dangerous than delta virus. Spreadability is more because of continuos mutation in its spike protein. To date, omicron has spread in 35 countries and if the traveling is not stopped on immediate effects, then, within the week, it is expected to spread to more than 400 countries.
Til today 400 cases of omicron variant have been reported throughout the world. Expert says that if the third wave has come in an effective way, it may push the world two years back. In India, some cases have been reported with omicron variants and some cases are under testing. In Karnataka, 2 cases of omicron have been confirmed. Likewise, 01 cases from Kerala, 10 cases from Bikaner, Rajasthan, 09 cases from Jaipur, Rajasthan, and 12 cases from Delhi have been reported. The sample has been taken from the infected patients and sent for genome sequencing.
It is said that about 50 mutations have been seen in the omicron variant. among all mutations, 32 mutations have been reported in its spike protein itself. There is a very sensitive matter of thinking is that all the vaccines made for coronaviruses is mostly working to destroy the spike or make inactive the spike of coronaviruses by which it adheres in the body of human being but due to abnormal mutations in omicron variant, it is told that might it will leave the vaccine protection behind its infection and the person is also vulnerable who has already taken both the doses of the vaccines. The scientist is under stress because mRNA and Vector-based vaccines work on virus spikes and our body immune system respond to kill or paralyze virus's spike once it enters our body because virus using spike protein just like an adhering organ to the cell of the human body at that stage our immune system will start working against the viruses and safe our body.
Now the problem is that when the structure of the spike protein had been mutated then what would be the efficacy of the protein. A senior citizen of Jamnagar, Gujrat found confirmed positive with omicron variant. He had come back to India from Zimbabwe. Now the world moving towards lockdown. South Africa has declared the first level of lockdown.
Doctors told that omicron is spreading very fast and have common symptoms like other viral fever. The main symptoms are muscle pain, sour throat, dry cough, tiredness, headache and mild fever observed. Expert says we may escape from the infection up to an extent if we are fully vaccinated, avoid the rush, follow social distancing, wear a proper mask, sanitize our hand properly, avoid touching eyes, nose, mouth, and ears and avoid going outside until not urgent. If necessary to go outside, go with full protection following all the protocols that were earlier followed.
However, in this puzzling situation, there is good news too. A GlaxoSmithKline plc (GSK) statement said that lab tests and a study on hamsters have demonstrated the sotrovimab antibody cocktail to work against viruses that were bio-engineered to carry a number of hallmark mutations of the Omicron variant. In a major boost to the treatment against fast-spreading and heavily mutated new coronavirus variant Omicron, GlaxoSmithKline plc (GSK) today said clinical data from tests indicate antibody-drug works against the variant.GSK, which is developing the Covid-19 antibody-based therapy with US partner Vir, said "Preclinical data demonstrate sotrovimab, authorized in multiple countries around the world, retains activity against all tested variants of concern, including key mutations of Omicron. Sotrovimab is an investigational monoclonal antibody that retains activity against key mutations of the new Omicron variant, including those found in the binding site of sotrovimab. These data were generated through pseudo-virus testing of specific individual mutations found in Omicron.
To date, sotrovimab has demonstrated ongoing activity against all tested variants of concern and interest defined by the World Health Organization (WHO)," a GSK statement said. The tests are continuing to confirm the results against all of the Omicron mutations, with an update expected by the end of the year. The antibody is designed to latch on to the spike protein on the surface of the coronavirus, but Omicron has been found to have an unusually high amount of mutations on that protein. Sotrovimab was deliberately designed with a mutating virus in mind, said Vir Chief Executive George Scangos, adding that the drug was targeting a region of the spike protein that was highly unlikely to mutate. In Britain, this drug has been approved on Thursday by another brand name "Xevudy", for people with mild to moderate Covid-19 and who are at high risk of developing severe disease. Sotrovimab, sold under the brand name Xevudy, is an investigational human neutralizing dual-action monoclonal antibody with activity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, known as SARS-CoV-2.
Sotrovimab is based on monoclonal antibodies, which are lab-made versions of the natural antibodies the body generates to fight off an infection. Similar products are offered or being developed by Eli Lilly, Regeneron, and AstraZeneca.
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