New Delhi: The doctor who alerted South African government scientists on the Omicron coronavirus variant said patients infected with it had so far not reported a loss of smell or taste and there was no major drop in oxygen levels.
Dr Angelique Coetzee, chair of South African Medical Association, said patients infected with the Omicron Covid-19 variant had symptoms different from that of the Delta variant, Reuters reported.
Dr Angelique Coetzee also said that symptoms of Omicron were so far mild and could be treated at home. "Delta infections, by comparison, caused elevated pulse rates, resulted in low oxygen levels and a loss of smell and taste," she said.
She said the patients experienced mild muscle aches, a scratchy throat, and dry cough, and only a few had slightly high temperatures.
"Most of them are seeing very, very mild symptoms and none of them so far have admitted patients to surgeries. We have been able to treat these patients conservatively at home," Reuters quoted Coetzee as saying.
She said the Omicron variant, dubbed a "variant of concern" last week by the WHO, was affecting people who were 40 or younger. The doctor said almost half of the patients with Omicron symptoms she treated were not vaccinated.
"The most predominant clinical complaint is severe fatigue for one or two days. With them, the headache and the body aches and pain," Reuters quoted Dr Angelique Coetzee as saying.
Omicron, first detected in South Africa, has been identified in at least 12 other countries. Cases have been found in Botswana, Italy, Hong Kong, Australia, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Germany, Canada, Israel and the Czech Republic. Many countries have imposed travel bans or curbs on southern Africa to stem the spread.
The variant is a cause of concern because of its high number of mutations and rapid transmission among young people. The new Omicron variant has reportedly got over 30 mutations in the spike protein region.