Omicron variants on the rise, Why?

The coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 is quite versatile, with a large number of variants and subvariants. The Omicron variant alone has more than 130 sublineages, reported DW. In Europe, the omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5 are currently on the rise. Why are they spreading so fast, despite the fact that many people have already been vaccinated? “New variants are traditionally defined as a new set of mutations that is believed to change how the virus functions. Typically, these variants have increased infection rates and increased disease severity,” Krishna Mallela, professor in the department of pharmaceutical sciences at the University of Colorado in the US, told DW. Now scientists are beginning to understand why specific mutations cause variants to be more infectious, like omicron, or more deadly, like Delta, and it comes down to how the coronavirus enters cells, and how our immune system fights it off. A recent study from the US showed that omicron is more infectious because it can better evade our immune system, reported DW.

After vaccination or a prior infection, antibodies circulate in your body and hunt for viruses. They detect coronavirus via its spike protein, which then signals for the virus to be neutralized. The study shows that the mutations in omicron subvariants BA.1 and BA.2 change the structure of the spike protein. “The mutations cause a different binding surface, which is less recognized by the antibodies. This leads to the evasion of antibody protection,” Kamal Singh, an immunologist from University of Missouri in the US, told DW. Essentially, your immune system is less good at hunting down and destroying omicron virus particles. This evasiveness is what caused the huge rise in infections around the world since omicron was first identified in South Arica in November 2021, as reported by DW.

Watch against contagion

In the last 24 hours 775 new cases of contagion and 4 deaths caused by Covid 19 were reported by State and Health Authorities. Contagion is being watched in Guanajuato and cases of contagion reported are below 800 in the last 24 hours, while there were 4 deaths reported. Authorities maintain the color of activities in the GREEN easing restrictions on activities, both leisure and work.

State Health Authorities insist that Guanajuato should maintain health protection.

For more information call:

• 800 004 4800 and
• 800 627 2583

Or visit:

• https://coronavirus.guanajuato.gob.mx/
• reactivemosgto.guanajuato.gob.mx