Dec 29, 2021 12:48:00

The new corona 'Omicron strain' may drive out the Delta strain

Studies have shown that people infected with the new coronavirus variant

Omicron strain , especially those who have been vaccinated with the new coronavirus vaccine, have enhanced immunity to not only the Omicron strain but also the Delta strain. It was announced. This indicates that Omicron strains, which have been reported to tend to have a lower risk of hospitalization than Delta strains, may help eliminate Delta strains.

Covid: Omicron appears to protect against delta and could displace it, study says
https://www.cnbc.com/2021/12/28/covid-omicron-appears-to-protect-against-delta-could-displace-it-study.html

South Africa study suggests Omicron could displace Delta | Reuters
https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/safrica-study-suggests-omicron-enhances-neutralizing-immunity-against-delta-2021-12-28/

On December 28, 2021, a research team from the African Institute of Health in South Africa published the results of a study investigating the effect of immunity induced by the Omicron strain on immunity against delta variants (PDF file). During the study, the research team took blood samples from 15 patients who were reported infected with the Omicron strain. At the time of the investigation, we investigated how the immunity of 11 people, excluding those who had already been cured and could not obtain a valid sample, responded to the coronavirus of the Omicron strain and the Delta strain.

Seven of the 11 people who were finally selected for analysis were those who had completed the new coronavirus vaccination. In addition, 11 out of 15 people were hospitalized, but none of them needed oxygen inhalation.

Analysis revealed that patients 2 weeks after onset had a 14-fold increase in antibodies to the Omicron strain. In addition, antibodies against the Delta strain as well as the Omicron strain increased 4.4-fold.

Regarding this result, the research team wrote in a paper, 'Individuals infected with Omicron strain, increased neutralization immunity to Delta strain may reduce the risk of re-infection of Delta strain. There are data suggesting that the Omicron strain is less pathogenic than the Delta strain, and these results may have positive implications for reducing aggravation. ' rice field.

The research published this time is a small one with a small number of subjects, and the paper is also before peer review, but the research team is in a situation where the infection of Omicron strain is spreading and regions such as the United States. Then, considering that the Delta stock is still rampant, he said that he decided to announce the research results.

Alex Cigal, a professor at the African Institute of Health, who led the research team, said on Twitter: 'The increase in neutralizing immunity against the Omicron strain was as expected, but those infected with the Omicron strain, especially those who were vaccinated. Was also found to have increased immunity to the Delta strain, which means that people infected with the Omicron strain are less likely to be re-infected with the Delta strain, so if the Omicron strain is less pathogenic. If we are certain of our previous findings that we do not, this result will help us overcome the Delta strain. '

If, as it currently looks like from the South African experience, Omicron is less pathogenic, then this will help push Delta out, as it should decrease the likelihood that someone infected with Omicron will get re-infected with Delta.

— Alex Sigal (@sigallab) December 27, 2021