The European Health Agency considers the risk of spread of the Omicron variant in Europe to be ‘high to very high’.

In a report, the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) estimates that “the overall level of risk for the EU and EEA (European Economic Area) associated with the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 is considered high to very high.”

The European Health Organization said, on Friday evening, that the risk is “high to very high” that a new variant of Covid-19, nicknamed Omicron and which was originally discovered in South Africa, is spreading in Europe.

In its risk assessment report, the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) estimates that “the overall level of risk for the EU and the European Economic Area (EEA) associated with the Omicron variant for SARS-CoV-2 is considered to be very high”. Apart from South Africa, Omicron was discovered in Malawi, in Israel on someone coming from Malawi, in Hong Kong and Belgium, a member of the European Union.

“The overall level of risk for the European Union and the European Economic Area (EEA, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) associated with the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 is considered high to very high, according to the ECDC.

The first case in Europe

In light of the possibility that current vaccines do not protect against this variant, and the fact that it could be more contagious, “we consider a high potential for new arrivals and contaminations (by Omicron) in the EU and EEA,” says the Stockholm-based agency.

“In the event that the Delta version returns to the EU and EEA, the impact and potential spread of Omicron could be very high,” she added.

Apart from South Africa, Omicron was discovered in Malawi and Israel on people from Malawi, Botswana, Hong Kong and Belgium, which are members of the European Union.

The center urged countries to conduct genome analyzes to track confirmed cases, and not to travel to affected areas.

suspension of journeys

The new variant B.1.1.529 of Covid was categorized on Friday of “concern” by the World Health Organization (WHO).

This classification puts Omicron in the most worrisome category of Covid-19 variants, along with Delta, which currently dominates the planet, and its weaker competitors, Alpha, Beta and Gamma.

More countries are suspending travel to and from South Africa to limit the use of Omicron. The anxiety it causes plunged global stock markets and oil prices, dealing another blow to the global economy in full recovery.