Covid-19: the Omicron variant appears to have an increased rate of reinfection but less severe symptoms, souli – Franceinfo

Good news and bad news. The boss of the World Health Organization pointed out on Wednesday, December 8 that the Omicron variant of the coronavirus appears to have a higher rate of reinfection. But at the same time this variant seems to cause less severe symptoms than the Delta variant.

“Preliminary data from South Africa suggests a higher risk of re-infection with Omicron, but more data is needed to draw firmer conclusions. There is also evidence to suggest that Omicron causes fewer symptoms. serious than Delta, but again it is too early to be certain “, detailed Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus during a WHO press briefing in Geneva.

To get a more accurate picture of the characteristics of the variant more quickly, he asked all countries to contribute to his assessment by submitting their data to the organization. To better fight the virus, he also called on all countries to continue their efforts in terms of vaccination and barrier gestures.

The scientific chief of the WHO also returned to preliminary studies published in recent days which seem to show that the variant makes the vaccine less effective and she called for the greatest caution in interpreting them. Studies are limited to studying the effect on antibodies alone “when we know that the immune system is much more complex”, she said. “It is premature to conclude that the reduction in the neutralizing activity of the antibodies should result in a significant decrease in the effectiveness of the vaccines.”