Secretary General of the German Society for Immunology, Carsten Watzl has postulated that the shocking number of mutations in the Omicron Coronavirus (COVID-19) variant could signal that it originated in a patient with HIV or another immunodeficiency.
Pointing out that the virus can replicate over many weeks in people with weakened immune systems, Watzl said, “During this process, there can be repeated isolated mutations which may not give the virus any advantage, but could nevertheless continue to multiply due to the immune system’s failure to control them”.
Comparing the original strain of coronavirus which first surfaced in Wuhan, China, Omicron has an unusually high number of about 30 amino acid changes in the spike protein alone.
Some of the mutations are known to be associated with greater transmissibility and immune evasion, but Watzl said it is still not clear what effect this particular combination of mutations will have.
He said many HIV patients in Africa do not receive adequate treatment, which is why their systems are significantly weakened.
In another development, Botswana Health Minister, Edwin Dikoloti confirmed a total of 19 cases of the newly-discovered Omicron variant of COVID-19.
Dikoloti said that additional assessments and analyses of other positive COVID-19 samples had revealed 15 more cases of the Omicron variant on Sunday after four foreigners were declared infected.
He stated that the initial cases of the Omicron variant in Botswana were detected after four foreign nationals, who had briefly visited Botswana, tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday November 11, 2021 and the variant was confirmed as the Omicron variant on Wednesday November 24, 2021.
However, in a bid to curtail the spread of Omicron, Rwanda has suspended direct flights with Southern African countries, as contained in cabinet communique issued by the office of the prime minister.
The decision was taken after an extraordinary cabinet meeting on Rwanda’s response to the Omicron variant chaired by President Paul Kagame, according to the communique.
The Communique stated, “While the variant has not been detected in Rwanda, its effects are potentially dangerous and, therefore, Rwandans and residents of Rwanda are required to exercise extra vigilance in the practice and enforcement of preventive measures”.
According to the communique, seven-day quarantine at own cost will be required for passengers travelling from, or those with a recent history of travelling to, the affected countries and all arriving passengers must quarantine for 24 hours at a designated hotel at their own cost., it added.
The communique further pointed out that a Covid-19 PCR test will be taken upon arrival at own cost, and an additional test, covered by the government of Rwanda, taken on day seven from the arrival date at a designated testing site.
Urging all Rwandans to get vaccinated, the communique stated that people attending events or gatherings, including conferences, concerts, weddings and festivals or exhibitions, must be fully vaccinated and tested, the communique said.
