Omicron mutation. What are the differences with Delta?
How will I know which mutation I have contracted?
What is the new Omicron mutation?
The Omicron mutation was first identified in South Africa. Africa and involves a new variant of the Delta. It is a mutation that is differentiated in the protein spike from the Delta mutation and makes it theoretically more infectious and contagious than previous COVID-19 mutations. The researchers identified the Omicron strain (B.1.1.529) in data from Botswana. The variant stood out because it contains more than 30 changes in the spike protein, the SARS-CoV-2 protein that recognizes host cells and is the main target of the human body’s immune response. Many of the changes found in mutations such as Delta and Alpha, are associated with increased virulence and transmissibility. More laboratory and clinical data is necessary to safely draw conclusions as to the severity of the disease from the strain with the Omicron mutation. Based on current data, the Omicron mutation seems to have milder symptoms than the Delta ones. Omicron mutations are divided into two main strains. Omicron 1 (BA.1) and Omicron 2 (BA.2).
Omicron Covid-19 Mutation Symptoms
The most common symptoms of the Omicron mutation are quite similar to other mutations and include:
- Runny Nose
- Headache
- Feeling tired
- Sore throat
- Fever
More rarely, symptoms such as:
- Diarrhoea
- Skin rash
- Irritated Eyes
Serious symptoms that can occur in micron mutation are:
- Chest pain
- Confusion
- Inability to move smoothly
Omicron and Delta Mutation Differences
The Omicron mutation replicates about 70 times faster than the Delta mutation in airway epithelial cells. While the Omicron mutation appears to be more contagious, statistics show that it is less severe than previous strains, especially compared to the Delta variant. Omicron infections are 91% less fatal than the delta variant, with a 51% lower risk of hospitalization. It is very important to consider the extremely high rate of spread, combined with the mutation’s ability to evade both double vaccination and the body’s immune system, so the total number of patients requiring hospital care at any given time still causes concern.
How will I know which mutation I have contracted?
Virus typing molecular protocols are used to determine which mutation and strain someone has been infected with. There are specialized COVID-19 typing molecular tests, to identify covid-19 subtypes.
Detailed information on the standardization protocol can be found here.
At Startbio we apply the typing protocols for the identification of DELTA and Omicron mutations as well as the Omicron BA.1 and BA.2 subtypes.
Can the Omicron mutation be treated with vaccines?
Vaccines continue to provide protection against severe disease and hospitalization, especially after a third dose of a vaccine is given. Early evidence suggests that dual vaccination offers 30 to 40 percent protection against infection and about 70 percent protection against hospitalization. The third dose of vaccine increases the effectiveness against infection by about 75% and 88% from severe disease.