New, but harder to detect Omicron-like variant detected in Australia

According to health officials in Queensland, Australia, a new omicron lineage has been discovered in a tourist who arrived from South Africa.

The new lineage has about half the gene variations of the original and can’t be detected with typical screening, the state’s acting chief health officer Peter Aitken told reporters. It was found in a traveler who had arrived from South Africa and tested positive for the coronavirus on Saturday, he said.

The new lineage has enough markers “to be able to classify it as omicron, but we don’t know enough about it as to what that means then as far as clinical severity, vaccine effectiveness,” Aitken said. “We now have omicron and omicron-like.”

The discovery comes as Queensland prepares to finally reopen its border to the rest of Australia ahead of schedule next Monday, as more than 80% of the eligible population will be fully vaccinated later this week.

The discovery may be a setback for scientists racing to understand the full impact of the omicron variant, including how virulent the strain is and whether vaccines are effective at reducing risk of severe disease. Although most genetic changes are innocuous as viruses mutate, some can make the mutant more adept at infecting cells, for example, or evading antibodies.

The new lineage has about half, or 14, of the genome mutations of the conventional omicron variant and doesn’t have the s-gene dropout feature, making it harder to track through PCR testing, Aitken said. The discovery is “going to lead to improvements in people recognizing potential spread of omicron in all communities,” he said.

Medically Speaking Team

Recent Posts

THE HIDDEN CHALLENGE OF WEIGHT LOSS: HOW FAT CELLS “REMEMBER” OBESITY

Losing weight is a significant milestone, but for many, the bigger battle lies in keeping…

15 hours ago

LINDT CHOCOLATE CONTROVERSY: HEAVY METALS DISCOVERED IN POPULAR BRAND’S PRODUCTS

In recent months, a growing controversy has surfaced regarding the presence of heavy metals—specifically lead…

15 hours ago

THE SURPRISING BENEFITS OF VITAMIN B3 IN LOWERING DEATH RISK AND IMPROVING HEART HEALTH

A new study published in Scientific Reports has shed light on the potential benefits of dietary…

16 hours ago

WOMEN’S HEALTH: HOW EXCESS ZINC CAN DISRUPT MENSTRUAL CYCLE AND FERTILITY

Zinc is an essential mineral that plays a crucial role in maintaining overall health. Known…

17 hours ago

AIIMS- LED TRIAL FINDS OPTIMAL DRUG COMBINATION FOR HYPERTENSION PATIENTS

A groundbreaking clinical trial, spearheaded by a team of Indian and international experts, has shed…

18 hours ago

LINK BETWEEN COVID-19 INFECTION AND CANCER REGRESSION UNCOVERED IN A GROUNDBREAKING DISCOVERY

In an unprecedented discovery, scientists have uncovered a surprising connection between COVID-19 infections and the…

19 hours ago