'Headed to a bad place': Dire warning for Australia as Covid variant spreads
Epidemiologists are demanding drastic action be taken until more is known about a new highly-infectious and potentially dangerous coronavirus variant spreading from South Africa.
The highly mutated strain, known as B.1.1.529, was dubbed Omicron by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Friday amid growing global alarm — joining the prevalent and deadly Delta variant under the same Greek Alphabet naming system.
The organisation has warned the new variant, which was first discovered in South Africa earlier this month, may be 500 per cent more infectious than other forms of Covid-19, with early evidence suggesting it poses a much higher risk of reinfection.
Omicron has now been seen in travellers from southern Africa to Belgium, Botswana, Hong Kong and Israel, with WHO describing it as being "of concern".
Dire warning for Australia
Australian epidemiologist, Dr Zoë Hyde, from the University of Western Australia, has called for an “urgent rethink” of the country's international borders.
“We can’t rely on travel bans to keep it out,” she warned in a Tweet on Saturday.
“If we don’t bring back a centralised quarantine system, we’re likely headed to a bad place.”
Other epidemiologists have said they fear it may be too late for countries to try and shut out the new variant.
"Most likely this virus is already in other places," Professor Ben Cowling with the University of Hong Kong said.
"And so if we shut the door now, it's going to be probably too late."
Australia’s international border needs an urgent rethink. The B.1.1.529 (“Nu”) variant has spread beyond southern Africa. We can’t rely on travel bans to keep it out.
If we don’t bring back a centralised quarantine system, we’re likely headed to a bad place. #auspol— Dr Zoë Hyde (@DrZoeHyde) November 26, 2021
New variant triggers travel bans
The world is racing to contain the emerging threat, with countries closing borders and suspending travel.
A senior official for US President Joe Biden has announced the US will restrict travel from South Africa and neighbouring countries from Monday.
Meanwhile, Canada will close its borders to those countries with Britain, the European Union banning flights.
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India, Japan, Israel, Turkey, Switzerland and the United Arab Emirates are among several other countries which have also tightened travel rules.
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt told reporters on Friday the new variant would not mean an immediate change to Australia's reopening plan, but the response would be swift should advice change.
“It means that we’re well prepared. We are able to act quickly if there is advice,” he said.
Vaccine makers react to new threat
Scientists are scrambling to understand Omicron's mutations and whether existing vaccines are effective against it as its spike proteins differ dramatically to the original coronavirus strain.
Vaccine maker BioNTech is hoping to have more data within two weeks to determine whether it's jab produced with partner Pfizer will be effective against the new variant.
Pfizer and BioNTech said a reworked vaccine would be ready to be shipped in around 100 days, if necessary.
"We understand the concern of experts and have immediately initiated investigations on variant B.1.1.529," BioNTech said in a statement.
"We expect more data from the laboratory tests in two weeks at the latest. These data will provide more information about whether B.1.1.529 could be an escape variant that may require an adjustment of our vaccine if the variant spreads globally."
Moderna is also working to tailor a booster candidate to the emerging variant.
With Reuters and AAP
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