New Delhi: As the world again witnesses another wave of Covid-19 with cases of Omicron variant multiplying manifolds, the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned not to take the variant lightly. Amid reports that the Omicron variant has common cold-like symptoms, WHO has warned that the same is not the case.
"Omicron is not the common cold,” said WHO epidemiologist & COVID-19 Technical Lead Maria Van Kerkhove in a tweet.
“While some reports show a reduced risk of hospitalisation of Omicron compared to Delta, there are still far too many people infected, in hospital sick & dying from Omicron (& Delta),” wrote Kerkhove further.
WHO Chief scientist, Dr Soumya Swaminathan also reiterated Kerkhove's warning and tweeted "Omicron is not the common cold! Health systems can get overwhelmed."
Analysis by the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention showed that people with the Omicron variant have symptoms that include cough, fatigue, congestion, and runny nose. UK-based Zoe Covid app recently included nausea and loss of appetite in the list.
Several studies from South Africa, the US, and the UK have shown that infection from the Omicron variant of Covid-19 was highly transmissible with mild symptoms and less hospitalisation.
14 patients in the United Kingdom have died due to the Omicron variant, whereas the US and South Korea reported one death each. Most of these deaths were of unvaccinated persons.
The WHO on Tuesday also said that the emerging evidence showed that Omicron affects the upper respiratory tract causing milder symptoms than the previous variants.
The apex institution also warned that increasing cases of infection with the Omicron variant can lead to the emergence of new variants.