Omicron: a first case identified in France

Europe 1 6:03 am, November 30, 2021

A positive case for the Omicron variant of the coronavirus, which is spreading across the world, has been identified on Reunion Island, a researcher from the Joint Unit for Infectious Process Research in Tropical Islands (PIMIT) announced on Tuesday.

This would be the first positive case identified of the new variant identified in France, as Europe 1 revealed overnight.

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The patient who tested positive is "a 53-year-old man" who traveled to Mozambique and "made a stopover in South Africa" ​​before coming to Reunion, said microbiologist Patrick Mavingui on Reunion la 1ere (Groupe France Television).

Placed in solitary confinement as well as his entourage, "the man suffers from muscle pain and fatigue", declared the scientist.

Increased surveillance in Reunion Island and Mayotte

The PIMIT was mobilized "urgently" Sunday evening, "for the sequencing of six tests," said the microbiologist. "The results arrived a few hours ago (...) there is a positive case," added the scientist. The other five samples are negative. Health authorities at local and national levels were immediately notified, said Patrick Mavingui.

This information comes as the Ministry of Health said in a statement on Sunday that it "is monitoring with particular attention the overseas territories of Reunion and Mayotte which are in direct or indirect connection with (the seven) countries" of Africa Austral with which air links have been suspended since Friday.

On Sunday, the Minister of Health, Olivier Véran had announced that eight "possible" cases of carriers of the Omicron variant had been detected in France.