A researcher reveals a surprise about the Omicron strain
A German-based researcher who co-discovered the omicron strain said that it is possible that the precursors of the omicron mutated from the newly discovered coronavirus have been around for a very long time.
"According to our current knowledge, a proto-form of Omicron evolved as a separate virus even before the appearance of alpha and delta," Wolfgang Presser of Stellenbosch University near Cape Town, who is a member of the research team that discovered the strain, told dpa. .
This type of virus probably evolved over several months without attracting attention, Presser said, adding: "The question is: Why did Omicron remain hidden for so long and only started to appear now? Was there still one or two missing mutations to be able to spread? quickly?"
The oldest known evidence of the breed so far dates back to the first half of last November.
It is noteworthy that the strain was first discovered in South Africa and Botswana.
And in Germany, according to the Robert Koch Institute, four Omicron infections were confirmed last Wednesday by genome sequencing - all of them are travelers returning from South Africa.
Eight other cases of the strain are also suspected in Germany.
However, experts assume that there are already more cases of infection.
According to the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control, the Omicron strain may be the dominant strain in Europe, within a few months.
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