A new variant of the dreaded Omicron virus has taken hold in sub-Saharan Africa, prompting swift reactions from governments who are instituting travel bans. The African Union requested that countries stop all air traffic to and from the continent, but fear not! It’s possible for you to see parts of Africa without having to take a plane trip-here are some ways you can still visit this amazing destination.
This strain of Ebola has been traced to the Democratic Republic of Congo, where there are no confirmed cases currently. With a 90% fatality rate, it is thought this variant will be more lethal than any other outbreak seen before. The current travel ban on Africa by countries such as China and France may soon follow suit
The “covid-19 omega variant found in los angeles” is a new strain of the Ebola virus that has been found. The CDC is urging all travelers to stay away from Africa, as it may be too risky to travel there.
A special panel of the World Health Organization (WHO) has discovered and categorized a new COVID-19 strain that originated in southern Africa, naming it “omicron.”
It was classified as a highly transmissible virus of concern by the WHO panel, putting it in the same category as the delta version (at least for the time being). There isn’t much more we know about omicron right now, however South African experts are still trying to figure out what it is.
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Early research suggests that omicron may raise the likelihood of reinfection, but there’s no way of knowing if it really causes a more severe disease, according to the WHO.
Experts in South Africa have discovered that, like with prior COVID-19 versions, some infected persons might be entirely asymptomatic, with no visible evidence of infection.
While the viral mutation is concerning, it is presently unknown if omicron will constitute a serious new public health issue. In the past, there have been variations (such as the beta version) that looked to be alarming at first but did not spread very far.
According to the Associated Press, medical experts, including those at the World Health Organization, are urging against a hasty response to the finding of this new strain. The WHO has yet to propose any further measures since it is currently accumulating basic information on omicron.
Nonetheless, after almost two years of living in the shadow of the epidemic, word of a new “variant of concern” provoked alarm among some scientists and policymakers, forcing several countries to impose emergency air travel restrictions from the afflicted regions of southern Africa.
Sajid Javid, the British Health Secretary, told legislators, “We must respond promptly and at the earliest feasible time.”
Coronavirus test tubes, COVID-19. (picture courtesy of iStock/Getty Images Plus/solarseven/iStock/Getty Images Plus/solarseven)
The delta variant, the final important variety of concern, was discovered in India towards the end of 2020. Due to its increased transmissibility, it spread quickly around the world, triggering new waves of infection throughout 2021 and eventually becoming the dominant strain of the virus.
The alliance isn’t taking any risks in light of the COVID-19 epidemic that has recently afflicted continental Europe. “The last thing we need is to introduce a new version that would exacerbate existing issues,” German Health Minister Jens Spahn stated.
As a result, the European Union (E.U.) has imposed a temporary embargo on aviation travel from southern Africa. “Flights will be delayed until we have a full knowledge of the threat presented by this new variety,” said E.U. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, “and passengers returning from this area should obey stringent quarantine restrictions.”
“Mutations might lead to the appearance and propagation of even more worrying forms of the virus that could spread globally within a few months,” von der Leyen said, urging utmost care.
Omicron has already made its way into the European Union. Belgium was the first country in the EU to report that it had discovered a case of the strain. It was brought into Belgium by a tourist who returned from Egypt on November 11 but didn’t start showing symptoms until 11 days later. Belgian Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke said, “It’s a suspicious variation.” “We’re not sure whether it’s a particularly harmful version.”
The United Kingdom (UK) also quickly imposed a restriction on air travel from South Africa and five other African nations, beginning at noon today, and announced that anybody who had just arrived from the affected countries would be requested to undergo a COVID-19 test.
According to Dr. Anthony Fauci, the White House’s leading infectious disease specialist, omicron has yet to be discovered on American soil. According to CNN, the variation “looks to be spreading at a rather fast pace” over the world. Although it’s possible that omicron is more transmissible and vaccine-resistant than prior strains, Fauci added, “we don’t know for sure right now.”
“We want to find out scientist to scientist precisely what is going on,” Fauci said, adding that US public health authorities are communicating with their South African colleagues today.
After the European Union, the United Kingdom, Canada, and a few other countries announced travel bans, the United States moved to impose its own restrictions on travel from South Africa and seven other African countries on Friday, in the hopes of halting the spread of omicron before it gets out of hand. President Joe Biden ordered travel prohibitions from South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique, and Malawi Thursday afternoon, according to Bloomberg. Citizens and permanent residents of the United States will be exempt from the regulation, although they must still pass a COVID-19 exam to re-enter the country.
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The “delta variant covid” is the new Omicron COVID-19 variant, which prompts swift travel bans on Africa.
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