Dec 6, 2021: Early studies on indications of the severity of the Omicron CoVID-19 type are “slightly encouraging” but more information is needed, according to Dr. Anthony Fauci, America’s leading infectious disease expert.

“Omicron has a transmission advantage” in South Africa, where the variant was first reported, Fauci said on Sunday in a CNN interview, noting the country had a low level of cases before it saw “almost a vertical spike upwards, which is almost exclusively Omicron”.

He further added, “Though it’s too early to really make any definitive statements about it, thus far, it does not look like there’s a great degree of severity to it,”

“Thus far, the signals are a bit encouraging.”

Medical experts have in recent days underscored that the South African population skews young and more severe cases could emerge in the coming weeks.

Laboratory tests are underway to determine whether omecron – a highly modified strain of the virus – is more transmissible than other strains, resistant to vaccination and infection, or more severe, with results expected to emerge in weeks.

U.S. health officials, meanwhile, say the strain has spread to about a third of U.S. states, but the Delta version accounts for the majority of COVID-19 cases nationwide at present.

Omicron cases have been reported in at least 15 U.S. states: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin.

Many of the cases were among fully vaccinated individuals with mild symptoms, although some patients did not know the status of the booster shot.

Vaccine producer Moderna, like other pharmaceutical companies, including Pfizer, has already started work to adapt their vaccines if necessary.

Cases of the Omicron variant have so far been confirmed in 40 countries.

COVID-19 vaccine makers are trying to quickly adapt their shots to target Omicron, and U.S. regulators have promised immediate reviews, but that could still take months.

Moderna Inc has said it could get US approval for an updated vaccine in March, but in a televised interview on Sunday, company officials said it would take time to increase production. U.S. government officials are also working with vaccine makers Pfizer Inc. and Johnson & Johnson on the latest shots.

The United States along with other countries last week imposed travel bans on South Africa and seven other South African countries to curb the spread.

Stay tuned to BaaghiTV for latest news and Updates!