<Anchor>
The biggest reason for concern about the spread of omicron mutations is that there is still not enough information about the exact characteristics. In the midst of this, research results have shown that the risk of reinfection with Omicron mutations is three times higher than before. In fact, it has already become the dominant species in South Africa, and there are speculations that it will become the dominant species in Europe within a few months.
This news is by Park Won-kyung.
<Reporter>
South Africa's National Institute of Infectious Diseases and others said that Omicron increases the risk of re-infection with COVID-19 by three times.
Analysis of epidemiological data showed that people who were already infected were three times more likely to be re-infected with the omicron variant than with the delta variant.
Meanwhile, in the Netherlands, 14 confirmed cases of Omicron among passengers on a South African flight were found to have been vaccinated.
Dutch health authorities say 90% of the 61 passengers who tested positive were vaccinated, including all infected with Omicron.
In Europe, where Omicron is spreading rapidly, the number of infected countries has risen to 14.
More than half of the 27 EU countries have been breached.
The European Center for Disease Control and Prevention says Omicron could become the dominant species in over half of the region's COVID-19 infections within a few months.
The control center said the transmission power of the omicron mutation is still uncertain, but preliminary data from South Africa suggest that the omicron mutation may be more potent than the delta mutation.
A confirmed case of Omicron has also occurred in India, which suffered a great spread of COVID-19 earlier this year.
India's health authorities said two confirmed cases of Omicron have been confirmed, and local media reported that both of them arrived last month from high-risk areas such as South Africa.