Netherlands says Omicron variant was already in country earlier than previously thought

[Jeffr2]

https://edition.cnn.com/2021/11/30/europe/omicron-netherlands-local-transmission-intl/index.html

 

The Covid-19 Omicron variant was present in the Netherlands a week before two flights arrived from South Africa carrying the virus, Dutch health officials said Tuesday, throwing the timeline of the variant's spread in Europe into question.

[Mac Mickmanus]

We need to realise the the first discovery of the new strain quite possible wasn't the first person to have that strain , it may well have been in circulation weeks/months before it was scientifically noticed 

[Jeffr2]

1 minute ago, Mac Mickmanus said:

We need to realise the the first discovery of the new strain quite possible wasn't the first person to have that strain , it may well have been in circulation weeks/months before it was scientifically noticed 

What's scary is people with this new variant are being discovered and they were never in South Africa.  I guess that means it's pretty wide spread already.  As we know, not all covid tests get sequenced to find out what variant the person has. 

 

This is a great article to read. 

https://www.nytimes.com/article/omicron-coronavirus-variant.html

 

Or this one if the above is behind a pay wall.

https://edition.cnn.com/2021/11/30/health/omicron-variant-weeks-research/index.html

[Scott]

New York is now sequencing every 7 positive tests. 

 

[Jeffr2]

8 minutes ago, Scott said:

New York is now sequencing every 7 positive tests. 

 

I'm guessing it's already in the US, we just don't know it yet. 

[Scott]

1 minute ago, Jeffr2 said:

I'm guessing it's already in the US, we just don't know it yet. 

I believe that is why there is such an uptick in the amount of sequencing going on.  

 

[i84teen]

Should be numbers on omicron occurrence soon now that PCR test identifies omicron variant.

Edited December 1, 2021 by i84teen

[Virt]

It was in Nigeria in October.

 

https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/nigeria-confirms-first-cases-omicron-among-travellers-south-africa-2021-12-01/

[Scott]

12 hours ago, i84teen said:

Should be numbers on omicron occurrence soon now that PCR test identifies omicron variant.

I think they are referring to the test being able to identify Omnicron as Covid, not that it will specifically be able to say what variant it is.  

Pretty much the only way of identifying the variant is through gene sequencing.  

[Bkk Brian]

16 minutes ago, Scott said:

I think they are referring to the test being able to identify Omnicron as Covid, not that it will specifically be able to say what variant it is.  

Pretty much the only way of identifying the variant is through gene sequencing.  

Apparently PCR tests can give a good indication, enough at least to classify a probable case according to this.

 

Several labs have indicated that for one widely used PCR test, one of the three target genes is not detected (called S gene dropout or S gene target failure) and this test can therefore be used as marker for this variant, pending sequencing confirmation. Using this approach, this variant has been detected at faster rates than previous surges in infection, suggesting that this variant may have a growth advantage."

 

https://www.who.int/news/item/26-11-2021-classification-of-omicron-(b.1.1.529)-sars-cov-2-variant-of-concern

[Virt]

5 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

Apparently PCR tests can give a good indication, enough at least to classify a probable case according to this.

 

 

Several labs have indicated that for one widely used PCR test, one of the three target genes is not detected (called S gene dropout or S gene target failure) and this test can therefore be used as marker for this variant, pending sequencing confirmation. Using this approach, this variant has been detected at faster rates than previous surges in infection, suggesting that this variant may have a growth advantage."

 

https://www.who.int/news/item/26-11-2021-classification-of-omicron-(b.1.1.529)-sars-cov-2-variant-of-concern

This article come with pictures so it's easier to understand ???? 

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/health-59460252