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The new variant of the coronavirus – Omicron Photo: Pixabey
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Omicron may displace Delta, as infection with the new variant of the coronavirus boosts immunity to the previous one, according to a study by South African scientists, writes BTA, citing Reuters.
Coronavirus Omicron infection increases neutralizing immunity against Delta, the researchers said.
The study included 33 vaccinated and unvaccinated South Africans infected with the Omicron variant. The results show that people infected with it, especially those who have been vaccinated, have developed increased immunity to the Delta variant.
“Increasing neutralizing immunity to Delta in people infected with Omicron may lead to a reduced ability of the Delta variant to re-infect these individuals,” the researchers said.
If Omicron is less pathogenic, as the South African experience shows, “this will help shift the Delta variant.”
A previous South African study found a reduced risk of severe disease and hospitalization in people infected with Omicron compared to Delta. However, according to researchers, this may be due to high population immunity.
The Omicron variant has spread around the world since it was first discovered in South Africa and Hong Kong in November.
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