In the middle of the fourth corona wave, the Omikron variant is also being discovered in Germany. Experts explain what makes them so dangerous – and what needs to be done.
Berlin – The Corona variant * Omikron is now also spreading in Germany – and at a dramatic time. Because: Even before the variant appeared, the nationwide incidence rose steadily. The number of cases of corona infections in Germany * has been high for weeks, the incidence at times above 400.
As reported by the Robert Koch Institute, the predominant variant in Germany is still the delta variant. * In calendar week 48, over 99 percent of citizens were still infected with this variant. Less than one percent became infected with the alpha variant * and Omikron. But the research results so far on the new mutant indicate that these numbers could soon increase significantly, and are getting experts from all over the world.
Corona variant Omikron: Model shows what makes the mutant so dangerous
Accordingly, the Corona variant Omikron avoids vaccination protection *. Virologist Sandra Ciesek already urged on Twitter that “the development of a vaccine adapted to Omikron makes sense”. At first glance, the research results on the course of the mutant seem like positive news. Because the variant could be more contagious, but not more deadly. But Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach * saw himself forced on Twitter to destroy even this faint hope.
| variant | Share in calendar week 48 in Germany |
|---|---|
| delta | 99.5 percent |
| alpha | 0.1 percent |
| Omicron | 0.1 percent |
| Source: RKI |
Corona mutant Omikron: Karl Lauterbach shares worrying model
In his tweet, Lauterbach shared a model calculation by biologist Gasperowicz from the University of Calgary in Canada. The model shows the case numbers of three possible variants. One with quick transferability and a normal course of the disease, the other with high transferability that is comparatively “mild”. The deaths from the latter are just as high over time. The lowest number of deaths is found in the variant whose transferability is rather low and whose fatality is twice as high.
Lauterbach commented on the model with the words: “Here you can see again in the model calculation why Corona variants, which are much more contagious, kill significantly more people than more deadly ones that do not spread quickly. Severe course kills linearly, high contagion kills exponentially. That is where the danger from Omikron lies ”. But what can be done about it?
Lauterbach on Corona variant Omikron: “Booster vaccination incredibly valuable”
The new Minister of Health also made a statement on this. At Anne Will * on ARD *, he clearly relies on boosting. Because with the third vaccination, the protection increases again to 75 percent. The people who became infected despite the corona vaccination would usually not get seriously ill. “The booster vaccination is therefore incredibly valuable because we can both end the delta wave and avert the omicron wave,” says Lauterbach.
Therefore, the Federal Minister of Health wants to make booster vaccinations one of his priorities in the next few months. It is important to press down the delta wave now. Lauterbach expects the first “anti-omicron vaccines” to be available from April or May. “If we have broken the delta wave by then and have pushed the omicron wave in front of us with the booster vaccination, then we can get through quite well,” says Lauterbach, ultimately giving hope. (slo) * fr.de is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA.
List of rubric lists: © Peter Byrne / dpa
