The World Health Organization warns of the emergence of new, more...

                "The more the omicron mutant spreads from the Corona virus, the rate of infection and reproduction increases in turn, which increases the chances of the emergence of a new mutant," said Catherine Smallwood, emergency official at the World Health Organization in Europe, on Wednesday.  The organization warned that the new mutation may be more dangerous compared to Omicron, which increases the number of deaths from this deadly virus.  And the old continent had recorded more than 100 million cases of Covid-19 since the outbreak of the epidemic, and more than 5 million cases in the last week of 2021 only.                
                  
Catherine Smallwood, WHO's emergency officer for Europe, warned that the sharp rise in infections  by omicron  Worldwide, it could increase the risk of a new, more dangerous mutation.  While the new mutation spreads unchecked around the world, it appears less dangerous than it was initially feared, raising hopes that the epidemic can be defeated and a return to a normal life is possible. 

Smallwood, however, was cautious and said the surge in infections could backfire. “The more the omicron spreads, the higher the rate of infection and replication, which increases the chances of a new mutant emerging. Currently, the omicron is a deadly mutant that can cause death … maybe a little less than delta, but who can tell what the new mutant will be like,” she said in an interview.

Europe has recorded more than 100 million cases of Covid-19 since the outbreak of the epidemic, and more than 5 million cases in the last week of 2021 “much more than what we have seen in the past”.

“We are at a very dangerous stage, we are seeing infections rising dramatically in Western Europe, while the full implications of that are not yet clear,” she said. Smallwood noted that while “on an individual level the risk of hospitalization appears to be less likely” with the omicron mutant than with delta, overall omicron could pose a greater threat because of the number of cases. “When we see cases rise to this level, it likely leads to more people with severe symptoms that end up in hospital and may lead to death,” she added.

On Tuesday, Britain almost faced an imminent crisis in hospitals due to the shortage of staff caused by a wave of Omicron infections, at a time when the daily toll of injuries in this country crossed the threshold of 200,000 cases for the first time.

Smallwood expects a similar scenario to emerge in other European countries. “Even in well-developed and capable health systems, real difficulties are emerging at the moment, and they are likely to recur across the region at a time when Omicron is causing more infections,” she said.

FRANCE 24/AFP