A strong wave of coronavirus infections driven by the Omicron variant could hasten the end of pandemic disruptions as it appears to cause less severe illness and provides protection against the delta variant, South Africa-based researchers said.<\/p>\n
A laboratory study that used samples from 23 people infected with the Omicron variant in November and December found that while those who previously caught the Delta variant could contract Omicron, those who get the Omicron strain couldn\u2019t be infected with Delta, particularly if they have been vaccinated, the researchers said.<\/p>\n
Results among the unvaccinated were unclear, as was whether they had been previously infected.<\/p>\n
While Omicron is significantly more infectious than delta, hospital and mortality data in countries including South Africa — the first country to experience a wave of omicron infections – appears to show that it causes less severe disease.<\/p>\n
The study – an update to one conducted last year – suggests that Omicron can displace Delta, the researchers led by Alex Sigal of the Africa Health Research Institute said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe implications of such displacement would depend on whether Omicron is indeed less pathogenic than Delta,\u201d the researchers said. \u201cIf so, then the incidence of Covid-19 severe disease would be reduced and the infection may shift to become less disruptive to individuals and society.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nWe have an update to our study which found enhancement of Delta immunity with #Omicron<\/a> infection.<\/p>\n
We were able to add study participants to see more clearly the effect of vaccination.<\/p>\n
Available at https:\/\/t.co\/rGaEB9GdmS<\/a> and soon on medRxiv<\/p>\n
\u2014 Alex Sigal (@sigallab) January 17, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n