Infection is spreading rapidly in South Africa, which first announced the existence of a new mutant virus, Omicron, in the new corona.
A local doctor interviewed by NHK testified that many infected people with the Omicron strain had different symptoms from those infected with the Delta strain and did not have difficulty breathing.
In South Africa, the number of newly infected people with the new coronavirus confirmed on the 2nd was 11,535, which has increased more than 30 times in the past two weeks.
Mosese Poane, a doctor near the capital Pretoria, interviewed NHK, said in a virus sample survey by health authorities that 91% of the total was Delta strains in September, compared to 74% last month. It is believed that the patients who were examined before September were infected with the Delta strain, and the seven patients who were examined in the past week or so were infected with the Omicron strain.
Poane pointed out that many infected people with what appears to be the former Delta strain and those infected with the recent Omicron strain have different symptoms. He complained of weakness, coughing, etc., but the coughing was from deep in the lungs, so much needed oxygen and hospitalized treatment. The tendency I'm seeing now is only in the throat. Because of this, there is no need for hospital treatment. "
"Some of the infected people we saw last week had been vaccinated," Poane said, adding that the Omicron strain may have had a so-called breakthrough infection.
On the other hand, he said that the symptoms of the infected people were mild, and suggested that the vaccine might prevent the disease from becoming more severe even if infected with the Omicron strain.
The infectivity of the Omicron strain and its effect on the effectiveness of the vaccine are not yet known, and scientists from around the world are investigating it.