Chinese experts say the omicron strain is similar to the flu virus: more infectious and less severe
Chinese experts say the omicron strain is similar to the flu virus: more infectious and less severe
An unusual mutation in the Omicron strain has sparked a new wave of concern among experts around the world.
According to foreign media reports, experts from Israel’s Hadassah Hospital said the omikron strain is more similar to the flu virus, because although it is more infectious, the symptoms of those infected are milder.
Dr. Dror Mevorach, a senior physician at Hadassa Hospital, said the Omicron strain did not appear to be so scary, and that an analysis of the latest data on infections in South Africa showed that while it was more infectious, it was not as dangerous as other variants.
The data, from omikron infections in South Africa’s hard-hit Tshwani district of Gauteng province, showed that 80 percent of those hospitalized in the past two weeks were under the age of 50, with almost all cases mild.
Mevorach noted that from the information available so far, there is reason to believe that the omicron strain is spreading rapidly, and that although a breakthrough infection has occurred, the strain is not as harmful, which seems to be good news.
According to current information, the omicron strain is more infectious but not “mild,” which is more similar to the flu virus, as some experts agree.
This also means that while more patients may emerge, they can be cured with some antiviral treatment. In addition, the vaccine could be tweaked to further boost antibodies and, hopefully, provide longer protection.
It is worth mentioning that a South African doctor revealed the process of discovering the omicron strain and noticed that a number of Omicron infected patients showed different symptoms from the previous Delta infected patients, so it attracted their attention and reported to relevant authorities, and finally discovered the strain.
