Omicron: Experts sound word of caution

The experts in North Bengal, however, say people should ignore the hype and instead follow Covid-19 protocol

PARAG BISWAS, SNS, SILIGURI, 28 NOVEMBER 21 : It's not the news that the residents of north Bengal, who are weary of the long slog of the coronavirus pandemic, would want to hear while sending their children to schools and colleges after a gap of around 20 months.

About a fortnight after educational institutions in the state reopened on November 16, the world is back in familiar territory-a new variant of the Corona virus, which has an unprecedentedly high number of mutations and which might be around 500 percent more infectious than the Delta variant and might bypass one's existing immunity acquired through vaccines or natural infection, has rung alarm bells across the globe and most countries are stepping up anti-virus measures, including travel curbs against South Africa, where it first emerged, as well as six other African nations.

The variant , which goes by the scientific lineage number B.1.1.529, has also been detected in Belgium, Botswana and Hong Kong and the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Friday designated the new variant as a "variant of concern," the fifth variant to be given the designation. A few hours after the first case of the variant was detected in Israel, the WHO said in a statement on Friday that it had assigned the B.1.1.529 variant the Greek letter Omicron.

Though no case of the Omicron variant has been reported in India so far, experts in north Bengal feel that it could trigger a third wave of Covid19 pandemic in the country, if necessary precaution swore not taken immediately.

A senior professor of the Department of Biotechnology, University of North Bengal, Dr Ranadhir Chakraborty, told this correspondent today that the new variant had as many as 50 mutations and it might not only be able to bypass vaccines and immunity gained from previous infections, but might also be resistant to current treatments and escape the Covid- 19 antibody and RT-PCR tests.

"The Omicron variant has a very unusual constellation of mutations. It is for the first time that a variant has three furin cleavage site mutations. The cleavage site occurs in the peptide linker between the Fusion Peptide and the Receptor Binding Domain, which binds to the peptidase domain of the ACE-2 receptor to gain entry into the host cell and infect the host with the deadly SARS-C.oV-2virus.ln the new variant, there are three furin cleavage site mutations, namely 11655Y, N 679K and P68111. In 11655Y, histidine has changed into Tyrosine and in N679K, Asparagine has changed into lysine. In P681H Proline has changed into histidine. The three mutations have made the virus more infectious as they have ensured a more efficient cell entry leading to a high rate of transmission. There is also a deletion in the NSP-6 (Non Stare-turd Protein -6), which was also present in the Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Lambda variants. The deletion, together with the unusually bad mutations in the spike protein, might enable the new variant to evade vaccines, tests, treatments and immunity from prior infections," he said.

The senior microbiologist, however, noted that although the Omicron variant had features that warranted concern, there was so much unknown about the variant that it was not a reason to panic. "There will be those who will spread fear and those who will downplay the new strain. We should ignore both groups and start following the standard operating procedures. We should use sanitizers and tight-fitting masks, maintain physical distance and avoid gatherings. We should also keep our rooms well-ventilated, especially during the ongoing winter, to ensure that a third wave doesn't strike us," he said.

Reflecting similar views, Dr Kaushik Bhattacharya, a renowned surgeon of north Bengal, pointed out that the Omicron variant had more than double the number of "bad spike mutations" compared with the highly transmissible Delta variant and it could spread worldwide within a few weeks. "The new variant really has an awful spike mutation profile the Ruin site in the variant spells absolute trouble. Omicron may spread like wildfire because its spike protein is more adept at entering human cells in the previous variants. It's potentially high competitive advantage medic older variants warrants exigent and judicious measures to control its spread," he cautioned.

Dr Bhattacharya suggested a four-pronged strategy to prevent the spread of the new strain in India. "First and foremost, the government should suspend all flights from the affected countries immediately. Secondly, the government should step up the drive to administer the second dose of vaccines. Thirdly, the government should now vaccinate children on war-footing. Lastly, we should again follow the covid protocols strictly," he said.