Variant of concern

The advent and rapid prevalence of the Omicron strain demonstrates the potential of SARS-CoV-2 to evolve its ability to transmit and cause disease. What is particularly surprising, however, is that the origin of the Omicron strain does not appear to have originated from any of the dominant SARS-CoV-2 variants such as the Alpha, Beta, Gamma or Delta strains.

A sensational statement - given that we have not yet "gotten rid" of the Omicron and Delta mutations and scientists in many countries object to the easing of anti-pandemic measures - was made by Assistant Professor of Epidemiology and Member of the Committee of Experts Gkikas Magiorkinis.

The country has seen a spike in the less severe Omicron variant

The Omicron variant has less severe infection than Delta, studies have shown

What do we know about the new SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant identified by the WHO as "alarming"? The answers are given by the President of the Bulgarian Society of Medical Virology and a member of the Expert Council of Virology under the Minister of Health - Prof. Dr. Radka Argirova, MD.

Why does the coronavirus mutate?

The WHO said on Nov. 30 that those not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 who are also vulnerable to the disease, including over-60s, should put off travel to areas with community transmission.

The World Health Organization warned Monday the new COVID-19 Omicron variant poses a "very high" risk globally, despite uncertainties about the danger and contagion levels of the new strain.

Unlike the first announcements since the strain was discovered in South Africa, and then arrived in Europe, and in which the experts of that world organization were vague, they have now given more concrete details, but also forecasts, and they are not promising.

The World Health Organization has said it is monitoring a new coronavirus variant known as "Mu", which was first identified in Colombia in January 2021, AFP reported. Mu, known scientifically as B.1.621, has been classified as a "variant of interest", the global health body said on Tuesday in its weekly pandemic bulletin.

The National Institute of Public Health (INSP) informs on Tuesday that until August 29 there have been 2,373 cases of SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern (VOCs), of which 1,719 with the Alpha strain, 11 with Beta, 23 with Gamma and 620 cases with the Delta variant. According to the INSP, until August 29, the confirmation rate with variants of SARS-CoV-2 VOCs was of 80%.