The rising cases of omicron in India
With Omicron cases rising alarmingly, doubts and queries have increased manifold. As the nation is about to come under the tight grope of an imminent third wave of coronavirus infection everyone is looking for answers to questions on COVID-19 symptoms, vaccination, test report, etc. What's driving things insane is that even vaccinated people are getting infected with the super spreader variant, Omicron.
Rising threat of omicron
India on Friday reported 1,17,100 new Covid-19 cases, highest since early June. Meanwhile, the country's Omicron tally stands at 3,007.
In view of the Omicron infections, one of the most common questions is whether RT PCR and Rapid Antigent Test confirms the presence of Omicron variant?
To this, Dr Lancelot Pinto says, "It is likely that most infections in the present surge are caused by the Omicron variant. S gene dropout on the RT PCR is highly likely to be Omicron (not all labs use the S gene to test, though). The presence of the S gene however, does not mean that this is not Omicron."
Will rapid antigen test tell me if you Omicron?
In December last week, the Centre had asked the states to adopt a dual RT PCR testing strategy for Omicron detection where only those samples showing positive for S gene dropout will be genomically sequenced for Omicron.
On the detection of Omicron variant through COVID testing, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has said, "The widely used PCR and antigen-based rapid diagnostic tests continue to detect infection of COVID-19, including Omicron," and on whether COVID-19 vaccines effective against the Omicron variant it says, "Information is still limited, but there may be a small reduction in the effectiveness of vaccines against severe illness and death, and a decline in preventing mild disease and infection. However, WHO reports that so far it looks like the currently available vaccines offer significant protection against severe disease and death."
Treatment options available
Corroborating UNICEF and emphasizing on the importance of knowing if one has been infected by the Omicron variant, Dr Pinto says, "this is important because the antibody cocktails presently available in India- casirivimab and imdevimab (Ronapreve- Roce/Cipla) or bamlanivimab and etesevimab (Eli Lilly)- do not work against the Omicron variant."
Read more: Coronavirus: Mistakes that are making you prone to COVID-19 complications