World Health Organization director-general, Tedros Ghebreyesus is a worried man. He recently said “The virus is still spreading, still changing, and still killing. We still do not understand the long-term consequences of the virus in those who survive. Ignorance is not bliss.” It certainly is not bliss in South Africa where Omicron first appeared.
Omicron Virus Still Spreading in Old Hunting Ground
The percentage of positive COVID-19 cases jumped to 20% over the weekend of April 30, 2022, on the basis of random tests. Dr. Richard Lessells of South Africa’s Network for Genomic Surveillance told Daily Maverick Omicron sublineages BA.4 and BA.5 were common.
Moreover, some of the mutations on those sublineages were “targeted to evade the body’s immune response by neutralizing antibodies”. However, he explained “the body’s response to prevent severe disease is very different from the one to prevent infection”. And therefore vaccination is still the key to avoiding serious disease.
South Africa Is a Complex Mix of Immunity
South Africa appears to be entering its fifth wave. Lessells describes the scenario as a complex mix of immunity through infection, and vaccination. But Prof Cheryl Cohen from National Institute for Communicable Diseases says South Africa is seeing low levels of reinfection. That’s because an estimated 80% of South Africans have “some level of immunity”.
Minister of Health Joe Phaahla told The Conversation there was no definitive new variant behind the new spike. Although two recent long weekends may have played a role. Dr. Waasila Jassat also from National Institute for Communicable Diseases reported a rapid increase in cases, but a smaller growth in admissions.
There was a small increase in patients requiring oxygen although hospital deaths remained steady. “Behavior is going to be very important,” says Prof Mosa Moshabela from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. “We will have to rely on people taking personal responsibility.”
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Risk of a More Virulent Virus Still Remains
