Omicron coronavirus variant linked with high risk of reinfection: Study

The recently identified Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 is associated with a substantial ability to evade immunity from prior COVID-19 infection, according to a study based on population-level evidence.

The team of researchers in South Africa noted that, in contrast, there is no population-wide epidemiological evidence of immune escape associated with the Beta or Delta variants.

The B.1.1.529 COVID variant, first detected in South Africa, was designated by the World Health Organisation as a Variant of Concern (VOC), the health body's top category for worrying coronavirus variants.

Experts believe the variant carries around 50 mutations. Of these, 32 are in spike proteins, which the virus uses to enter the human cells, and 10 are mutations of high relevance.

This is the first data-based study to suggest that Omicron may evade immunity from prior infection.

"Population-level evidence suggests that the Omicron variant is associated with substantial ability to evade immunity from prior