Omicron probably in most countries, WHO says

GENEVA: The World Health Organization (WHO) has said that the new coronavirus variant Omicron is probably present in most countries around the world.

Cases of the heavily mutated variant have been confirmed in 77 countries, BBC has reported.

But WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said it was probably in many others that had yet to detect it, and was spreading at an unprecedented rate, the report said.

Dr Tedros said he was concerned that Omicron was being underestimated.

“Surely, we have learned by now that we underestimate this virus at our peril. Even if Omicron does cause less severe disease, the sheer number of cases could once again overwhelm unprepared health systems,” he said.

The Omicron variant was first identified in South Africa in November, and the country has since seen a surge in infections.

Several countries have introduced travel bans affecting South Africa and its neighbors following the emergence of Omicron, but this has failed to stop it from spreading around the world.

Dr Tedros told reporters that Omicron was “spreading at a rate we have not seen with any previous variant”.

(With inputs from BBC)