* In epicentre Gauteng province the R rate has spiralled from one to three in recent weeks as cases surge
* Lead UK epidemiologist says Omicron infections likely appear mild because of immunity from past infections
* WHO officials suggested on Thursday that Covid cases were milder in those who caught the Omicron strain
The reproduction rate in the South African province at the epicentre of the Omicron outbreak has surged from below one to above three in less than a month, as the super-strain outpaces Delta at a ferocious pace.
Public Health officials in Guateng province estimate that the R value — a key measure used to gauge how fast a wave is growing — could be as high as 3.5. For comparison, the UK's R rate has never been above 1.6.
The Omicron strain has triggered a meteoric rise in cases in South Africa, mostly concentrated in Guateng, since the country that first alerted the world about the highly-evolved virus on November 24.
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WNU Editor: this is a disturbing find .... New Findings Show the Omicron Variant Spread Widely At a Faster Pace Than Initially Thought (AP). The next development will be to find out if hospitalizations and deaths are going to follow.
Covid Cases Surge In South Africa Where Omicron Variant First Emerged
Covid: South Africa new cases surge as Omicron spreads -- BBC
Reinfections three times more likely with Omicron: S. African research -- France 24
Omicron driving record rate of Covid infection in South African province -- The Guardian
Africa steps up Omicron variant detection as COVID-19 cases rise in southern Africa -- WHO
WHO says surge team deployed in S.Africa's Gauteng to tackle Omicron -- Reuters
So what?? If the death rate rises sharply let me, then I will give a shit
ReplyDeleteUnless antivirals for HIV/AIDS work or everyone, who needs them, are actually taking them in South Africa on corona virus also, you might expect people to die. One out of seven people in South Africa has HIV. If you look at 15 to 49 years of age, it is more like 1 out 5.
ReplyDeleteIt is a sick population, which is a hell of a fuel load for a pathogen.
Do we really know how deadly the bacterium Yersinia pestis is? Was not part of the death toll due to malnutrition, because people were fruitful and multiplied until they were scrounging for food? The case fatality rate for the disease is high. Maybe 10% or 20% higher due to a malnourished population?'
Just what do you expect will happen with a population of people with as 20% AIDS rate? Everything good?
The omicron variant of the coronavirus was in Europe before South African scientists discovered it over Thanksgiving weekend.
ReplyDeleteDutch health authorities said Tuesday they found the omicron variant in cases dating back 11 days, which suggests that the variant had already started spreading in the country well before South African researchers announced its discovery.
The original variant was in the US long before it made news
ReplyDelete