If it was possible for Africa to be blamed for originating COVID-19 in 2019, it would have been done. However, because of the way the coronavirus surfaced and the link to Wuhan, China, the detractors could not point their fingers at Africa. Also, China was not in the good books of the ‘owners’ of the universe so anything that could be done to discredit the Chinese was welcome.
Africa took the blame for the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, AIDS, the Ebola virus, Malaria and other viruses and bacteria, so it did not come as a strange thing for western reports to point fingers at the ‘Dark Continent’ as the origin of the new COVID19 Omicron Variant.
On 26th November 2021, the World Health Organisation, WHO, designated coronavirus variant B.1 .1.529 a variant of anxiety and named it Omicron.
This is not the first coronavirus variant but the new COVID-19 strain was said to have first been identified in South Africa, and scientists in South Africa and other parts of the world have been working to learn more about the viral strain. It is now clear that, weeks before the discovery in South Africa, cases of the variant had surfaced in The Netherlands. Also, Botswana is said to have reported similar cases among Caucasian visitors and residents before the smart South African scientist blew the whistle. The nationalities of those Caucasians and where they traveled from have remained undisclosed.
Apart from South Africa, other countries that have reported cases of the Omicron variant include Nigeria, Australia, Italy, Germany, The Netherlands, Britain, Israel, the United States of America, Scotland, Denmark, France, Hong Kong, Botswana, Belgium, Switzerland and Canada. Many of these countries have put in place measures they think will prevent more cases from coming into their space and it is Africa that has borne much of the brunt because countries in Europe and Canada were quick to ban travelers from Africa from coming through their borders and airports.
But the WHO itself is at the moment not sure if the Omicron variant is more easily transmitted from person to person than other variants, such as Delta. The organisation is also said to be trying to find out if the current COVID-19 vaccinations and other treatments are effective against the Omicron variant and it says it is working with partners to figure out if there will be any effect on the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination and other countermeasures.
While research continues, the WHO also reminds the public that immunization are still effective against other COVID-19 variants, including the dominant Delta strain, and are the greatest approach to prevent severe illness and death. As for re-infection rates, the WHO says preliminary research indicates that the new variant may increase the risk of re-infection among people who have already had COVID19.
The usual COVID-19 protocols are still recommended to combat this variant, including maintaining physical distance, wearing a well-fitting mask, opening windows to improve ventilation and avoiding poorly ventilated or crowded spaces, keeping hands clean by washing and sanitizing, coughing or sneezing into a bent elbow or tissue, as well as getting vaccinated.
The new Omicron variant, which has double the number of mutations of the Delta variant, is said to be highly contagious. Fatigue and high pulse are among “unusual” symptoms spotted, as well as muscle aches, scratchy throat and dry cough. There may also be a bit of high temperature, tiredness and mild headache, but none of the usual symptoms such as a loss of taste or smell, a high temperature and continuous cough.
While people who contract the Delta strain have headaches, sore throat and runny nose which are also classic features of common cold, the most common symptom of Omicron is a moderate to severe “pulsing” headache lasting three to five days, which painkillers cannot take care of.
It is not yet known if the current vaccines will help fight against the Omicron variant but it is hoped that vaccination and boosters will provide some measure of protection. Experts believe it will take weeks and more to see if this variant will be completely covered by the current vaccines from Moderna, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson.
That European and North American countries did not waste time in imposing travel restrictions imposed on Nigeria, South Africa, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Angola and other Africa nations showed their bias and their age-old prejudice over something that research had not proved to have originated from Africa. If anything, the carriers of COVID-19 Omicron, just like the original and Delta versions, are more likely to be foreigners who travel to Africa from their countries and other places in North America, Europe and Asia.
Past experience has shown that viruses and diseases do not discriminate. They can come from anywhere and can affect anybody. COVID-19 came from China. There have been several plagues in Europe. This shared humanity should serve to remove any bickering as to where a disease originates from, by meting out punishment or restricting freedom of movement of world citizens due to where they come from and the perception of how ‘bad’ things also come from their place of origin.
IMAGE CREDIT: 11Alive.com, NewsCenter1
