key: cord-0838749-1dglnfah authors: Islam, Md. Rabiul title: The SARS‐CoV‐2 Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant and the re‐emergence of COVID‐19 in Europe: An alarm for Bangladesh date: 2022-03-13 journal: Health Sci Rep DOI: 10.1002/hsr2.545 sha: 0621cde726003cb6e6479405a7882b2db773ffa3 doc_id: 838749 cord_uid: 1dglnfah nan The newly emerged variant has arrived in Europe during the devastating fourth wave of COVID-19 upsurge due to the Delta variant. As of January 28, 2022, Europe logged more than 138 million COVID-19 cases, which is the highest across the region followed by the Americas (more than 132 million confirmed cases). 5 Also, Europe is currently representing 38% of all COVID-19 cases reported globally. 5 The COVID-19 symptoms due to the Omicron variant are milder so far. However, the Omicron variant could potentially raise death rates due to its very high transmissibility. 6 People suffer flu-like symptoms due to the Omicron variant. The major symptoms for the Omicron variant are fever, sore throat, cough, weariness, and aches, whereas low oxygen saturation, abnormal pulse rates, and shortness of breath are frequently reported symptoms for the Delta variant. 7 Moreover, tiredness, sore throat, muscle or body aches, loss of taste or smell, runny nose were common for earlier variants. 8 We do not have enough epidemiological data about the Omicron variant yet. However, some early studies suggest that the illness due to the Omicron variant is mild so far. 8 The findings by research in England, Scotland, and South Africa stated that the omicron variation has a 15%−80% reduced risk of hospitalization than the Delta variant. 9, 10 Approximately, 15%−20% infected individuals with the Omicron variant may require to visit the hospital, which is a 40%−45% lower probability of hospitalization than those infected with the Delta variant. 11 According to new data from South Africa, during October and November of 2021, Omicron infection shows an 80% lower count in people with other variants having a lesser likelihood of being admitted to the hospital. 12 According to preliminary data by the Health Security Agency of the United Kingdom, two doses of AstraZeneca's nCoV -19 or BioNTech's BNT162b2 vaccines are effective against symptomatic infection. 13 However, the increased rate of infections among the people who were previously infected or have received double vaccine shots has created new worries across the countries. [14] [15] [16] [17] Pfizer and BioNTech reported that three doses of their vaccine are capable of eliminating the new Omicron variant in certain lab tests, and additional booster doses will provide additional protection. 18 A recent Pfizer research claimed that vaccination protection after 6 months dropped from 96.2% to 83.7%. 19 According to their findings, the Pfizer (two doses) vaccine provides more than 80% immunity against severe illness and death, while additional boosters might increase the immunity by 10%. Moreover, US-FDA authorized three antiviral drugs for emergency use in treating COVID-19 patients. Remdesivir is a nucleotide that inhibits the RNAdependent polymerase enzyme of SARs, which is present in the epithelial cells of the airways in humans; it shows significant nanomolar action. 20 Moreover, molnupiravir shows synergistic effects with other antivirals according to preclinical studies. 21 Classification of Omicron (B.1.1.529): SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern Sequence analysis of the emerging SARS-CoV-2 variant Omicron in South Africa Covid-19: Omicron drives weekly record high in global infections The Boris Johnson reports U.K.'s first known death of patient with omicron variant WHO COVID-19 Dashboard-up to date data on pandemic. World Health Organization (WHO). 2022. 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