Episode
The O variant
- Podcast
- Dr. John Campbell
- Published
- Jun 28, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 1929
- Processing state
not_requested- Canonical source
- https://traffic.megaphone.fm/VG7160504055.mp3
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Summary
Worst ever Covid variant? Omicron B.1.1.529 Increased contagion Immune escape Sicker people WHO, VOC https://www.who.int/news/item/26-11-2021-classification-of-omicron-(b.1.1.529)-sars-cov-2-variant-of-concern The Technical Advisory Group on SARS-CoV-2 Virus Evolution Independent group of experts First reported to WHO from South Africa on 24th November 2021 South Africa, infections have increased steeply, coinciding with the detection of B.1.1.529 variant The first known confirmed B.1.1.529 infection was from a specimen collected on 9th November 2021 Preliminary evidence suggests an increased risk of reinfection with this variant The number of cases of this variant appears to be increasing in almost all provinces in South Africa Current SARS-CoV-2 PCR diagnostics continue to detect this variant. For one widely used PCR test, one of the three target genes is not detected (called S gene dropout or S gene target failure) This variant may have a growth advantage. How did the new variant develop? https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-03552-w Professor Francois Balloux, Computational Biology Systems, University College London Mutated during a chronic infection of a person whose immune system was already weakened by an untreated HIV/Aids infection Botswana Discovered, November 11th (collected 9th) 2021 in Botswana South Africa 77 confirmed cases 90% of new cases in Gauteng, probably B.1.1.529 Early signs of rapid spread in Gauteng province, 900 cases per day May have spread to eight other provinces in South Africa SA, fully vaccinated, 24% Israel https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/science-and-disease/new-coronavirus-variant-reason-concern-say-researchers/?li_source=LI&li_medium=liftigniter-onward-journey 1 returnee from Malawi Two other people suspected of hav…