'Omicron' goes beyond delta... Do medications work?

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There is also a prospect that it will only be a matter of time before Omicron, which is spreading across the continent, overtakes Delta and becomes a major mutation.

Although more verification is needed, there is also talk that the vaccine may not be effective.

<Reporter> The

delta mutant virus was first discovered in the UK at the end of February.

In less than four months, it overtook the existing alpha mutation, became the dominant species in the UK, and spread to over 160 countries.

Delta outperforms Alpha because it propagates faster, and Omicron is faster than Delta.

So it's only a matter of time before Omicron becomes the dominant species.

[Lee Geun-hwa / Professor of Microbiology, Hanyang University: There were 200 new confirmed cases in South Africa two weeks ago. There are more than 2,000 confirmed cases in the past two weeks. This mutant (Omicron) virus accounts for about 90%.] As

it is analyzed that existing vaccines do not work well with Omicron, attention is focused on treatment.

A research team at the University of Washington in the US tested two types of antibody treatments from US pharmaceutical company Lilly.

The vertical axis is the probability of hearing poorly.

The first treatment, E484, is rarely heard, and the second antibody treatment is K417, so I hardly hear it.

By the way, there are both Omicron, E484, and K417.

The antibody treatment made by AstraZeneca came out to be a little better, but still inferior to the existing mutation.

Oral drugs made by Merck and Pfizer are controversial.

The Pfizer CEO said he listens.

Because the target point of the pill is not the mutated part of Omicron, so it has nothing to do with potency.

However, the UK Health Department said the target point could also cause mutations, so it would be less effective.

Domestic experts are similar.

If so, is there no cure, no?

The most important treatment for severely ill patients is steroid and oxygen therapy.

It has absolutely nothing to do with the type of mutation.

Care for critically ill patients remains the same.

It is necessary to re-examine all aspects of Omicron's transmission power and risk, and prepare a new treatment drug guideline.

(Video editing: Jo Moo-hwan, CG: Kim Jong-un)

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