New coronavirus pressure confirmed in an individual in California who returned from South Africa final month, CDC says.
The USA has reported its first confirmed case of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus, the US Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC) mentioned on Wednesday.
The case was confirmed in an individual in California who returned from South Africa on November 22, the CDC mentioned in a press release.
The particular person, who was not recognized, had been absolutely vaccinated and was experiencing gentle signs that had been enhancing, the CDC mentioned.
“The person is self-quarantining and all shut contacts have been contacted and all shut contacts to this point have examined detrimental,” Dr Anthony Fauci, the US’s chief infectious illness official, informed reporters on the White Home.
“We knew that it was only a matter of time earlier than the primary case of Omicron was detected in the US,” mentioned Fauci, who urged folks to get vaccinated and put on masks indoors and in congregate settings to stop the unfold of the virus.
The World Well being Group (WHO) on November 26 designated Omicron as a “variant of concern” after well being specialists in South Africa first detected the brand new pressure.
A WHO advisory panel mentioned early proof confirmed the brand new B.1.1529 variant, which it dubbed Omicron after a letter within the Greek alphabet, posed an elevated danger of reinfection in contrast with different extremely transmissible strains.
The WHO later mentioned the variant posed a “very excessive” world danger, as scientists work to find out whether it is extra contagious or causes extra extreme sickness than different variants.
The US and different nations have imposed a wide range of bans on journey from South Africa and neighbouring international locations after Omicron was detected, although public well being specialists and world leaders have rejected these measures as “punitive”.
United Nations Secretary-Common Antonio Guterres mentioned on Wednesday that journey curbs imposed over COVID-19 that isolate anybody nation or area had been “not solely deeply unfair and punitive – they’re ineffective”.
Guterres mentioned throughout a information convention that international locations that had reported the emergence of the brand new pressure mustn’t “be collectively punished for figuring out and sharing essential science and well being data with the world”.
Omicron now has been detected in a rising checklist of greater than 24 nations worldwide.
The primary case within the US comes as COVID-19 instances are surging in Michigan and different midwestern states the place colder winter climate has arrived.
However Fauci mentioned well being authorities “really feel good” that the person in California has skilled solely gentle signs that had been enhancing, and he cautioned in opposition to drawing any conclusions concerning the virility of the Omicron virus.
“There may be numerous data that’s now evolving out of nations like South Africa which have a a lot bigger variety of people” with Omicron infections, Fauci mentioned.
Earlier this week, US President Joe Biden sought to reassure the American public, saying the brand new pressure needs to be thought-about a “trigger for concern, not a trigger for panic”.
“This variant is a trigger for concern, not a trigger for panic,” he mentioned on Monday. “If you’re vaccinated, however nonetheless nervous concerning the new variant, get your booster. If you happen to aren’t vaccinated, get that shot. Go get that first shot.”