The mystery behind asymptomatic transmission
With the emergence of the most aggressively transmitting variant of the COVID-19 inducing coronavirus, Omicron, emphasis is on a wholesome approach towards prevention of the infection and increased understanding of the transmission of the virus.
Of the several types of carriers that transmit the coronavirus, the asymptomatic ones function in a mysterious way. How exactly being an asymptomatic carrier of COVID-19 affects the risk and burden of the disease is least understood. With a limited knowledge and frequent outbreak of infection due to virulent mutated variants, many possible insights in tracing, controlling and curbing the transmission of the virus is probably being lost.
Who are asymptomatic carriers?
Asymptomatic carriers are the silent carriers of the virus. The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines these carriers as laboratory-confirmed cases where a person infected with COVID-19 does not develop symptoms. WHO says infected people can transmit the virus both when they have symptoms and when they don’t have symptoms. This is why it is important that all people who are infected are identified by testing, isolated, and, depending on the severity of their disease, receive medical care. Even people confirmed to have COVID-19 but who do not have symptoms should be isolated to limit their contact with others. These measures break chains of transmission.
Ministry of Health, Government of India says asymptomatic carriers are the laboratory confirmed cases not experiencing any symptoms and having oxygen saturation at room air of more than 94%. To put a check on their ability to transmit the virus they are suggested to follow symptomatic management for fever, running nose and cough.
Often healthy adults are asymptomatic carriers of the disease, and this is a plausible reason why they can't be spotted unless and until tested.
How serious can asymptomatic carriers be?
Since these asymptomatic carriers transmit the virus as actively as other infected people, not putting a check on them would create a havoc on the hospitals and other medical care facilities in the country. Director of Maulana Azad Medical College, Doctor Naresh Gupta on December 30 warned that the Omicron variant is going to spread like a fire once it gets into the community. “Reportedly, 70 per cent Omicron patients are asymptomatic, and with the variant's high transmissibility, it's going to spread like fire once it gets into the community because you won't know if the next person is infected,” he added.
In the United States, as the cases of Omicron are rising, top federal health officials are looking to add a negative test along with five day restrictions for asymptomatic patients, the White House's top medical adviser, Anthony Fauci, said Sunday. He said the US has been seeing close to 400,000 cases per day with a vertical increase in hospitalisation cases.
Omicron showing more asymptomatic carriers
Recent data shows more asymptomatic cases in Omicron variant than other COVID variants. A recent report of NDTV shows that out of the total number of new COVID cases that have been traced in Mumbai till January 3, 90% are asymptomatic. While it is too early to reach a conclusion as this, but with limited testing, this alarming data can't be ignored.
Until January 4, 2022 India has reported 37,379 new Covid-19 cases, and 1,892 Omicron cases so far. The country has reported 124 deaths in last 24 hour.