US stories first case of Omicron variant in South Africa returnee

The US recorded its first confirmed case of the omicron variant Wednesday — in a vaccinated traveler who returned to California after a visit to South Africa — as scientists all over the world race to ascertain whether or not the brand new, mutant model of the coronavirus is extra harmful than earlier ones.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the United States’ high infectious-disease knowledgeable, introduced the discovering on the White House.“We knew it was just a matter of time before the first case of omicron would be detected in the United States,” he stated.The contaminated individual was recognized as a traveler who had returned from South Africa on Nov. 22, developed gentle signs and examined optimistic for COVID-19 Monday. Researchers on the University of California, San Francisco obtained a pattern from the affected person Tuesday night and labored feverishly in a single day to assemble the genetic sequence.ALSO READ: South Korea confirms first 5 instances of Omicron variant in contacts of Nigeria returneesThe individual, who had had the complete two doses of the Moderna vaccine and wasn’t but due for a booster shot, is bettering, California officers stated.Fauci and different medical specialists strongly emphasised that Americans ought to proceed to get vaccinated and get their booster photographs. The vaccine has been confirmed to cut back the danger of extreme sickness and loss of life, and Fauci stated it’s affordable to imagine it’s going to supply safety towards the omicron variant.The gentle nature of the California individual’s an infection “is a testimony to the importance of the vaccinations,” stated California Health Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly.All the person’s shut contacts have been reached and have examined damaging, officers stated. The affected person, who agreed to stay in quarantine, was recognized solely as being between 18 and 49.California Gov. Gavin Newsom expressed confidence within the state’s efforts to regulate the virus and stated he doesn’t anticipate imposing one other stay-at-home order or different shutdown measures.ALSO READ: Omicron variant might outcompete Delta, South African illness knowledgeable saysAt least 23 different international locations have reported omicron infections since South African authorities first recognized the variant every week in the past — an announcement that led the U.S. and plenty of different nations to virtually instantly bar airline vacationers arriving from southern Africa.In South Africa, new instances of COVID-19 practically doubled in a single day to virtually 8,600, authorities reported Wednesday, and the nation’s National Institute for Communicable Diseases stated omicron has now overtaken the delta variant amongst samples now being analyzed on the genetic stage.But the variant continues to be surrounded by many unknowns, amongst them: Is it extra contagious than different variations, as some scientists are starting to suspect? Does it make folks extra severely ailing? And can it evade the vaccine?“Any declaration of what will or will not happen with this variant, I think it is too early to say,” Fauci stated.European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated it’s going to take two to 3 weeks earlier than it turns into absolutely clear what omicron can do to the world.“This is, in normal times, a short period. In pandemic times, it’s an eternity,” she lamented.ALSO READ: EU chief requires debate on making Covid-19 jabs necessaryIn California, the genetic evaluation of the affected person’s virus from UCSF was confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.“We will likely see this scenario play out multiple times across the country in the coming days or weeks,” stated Scott Becker, CEO of the Association of Public Health Laboratories.“This particular case shows the system working as it was designed to work — an individual with travel history from South Africa, an astute laboratory and quick prioritization of the specimen for sequencing, and close coordination with public health officials.”Nigeria and Saudi Arabia additionally reported omicron infections Wednesday, marking the primary identified instances in West Africa and the Persian Gulf area.Going additional than many different international locations in attempting to comprise the virus, Japan has banned overseas guests and requested worldwide airways to cease taking new reservations for all flights arriving within the nation till the tip of December.The U.S. is working towards requiring that each one air vacationers to the nation be examined for COVID-19 inside a day earlier than boarding their flights, up from the present three days.On Wednesday, the World Health Organization warned that blanket journey bans are complicating the sharing of lab samples from South Africa that might assist scientists perceive the brand new variant.At the identical time the omicron variant is spreading new worry and uncertainty, the dominant delta variant continues to be creating havoc, particularly in Europe. Many international locations there are coping with a surge in infections and hospitalizations, regardless of a comparatively excessive vaccination charge of 67% of the European Union’s inhabitants.For the primary time, von der Leyen stated EU nations ought to think about making vaccinations necessary. Greece plans to effective folks over 60 who don’t get the shot. And German Chancellor-designate Olaf Scholz stated he’ll again a proposal to require everybody to get vaccinated.ALSO READ: Saudi Arabia detects first case of recent coronavirus variant Omicron