A mini review on omicron variant of SARS-COV: A new variant of concern (VOC)

Abstract

The Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) is a pandemic which outbreak from Wuhan China in late 2019. It has produced serious disturbances and unprecedented problems around the whole world including in worldwide healthcare systems. Severe corona viral acute syndrome 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causing a severe viral pneumonia which began in December 2019 in Wuhan. The Omicron virus is a newly emerging variant of previously existing SARS-CoV-2. This variant is firstly reported in South Africa on November 24, 2021. The World Health Organization (WHO) identified it as a variation of concern on November 26, 2021. A large number of mutations (60 mutations) with several novel mutations, are discovered in this variant and these mutations disrupt the spike protein targeted by most COVID-19 vaccines. Higher degree of mutations in the virus makes it virus of concern in its transmission, effects on immune system and level of vaccine resistance. As a result, the variant was quickly identified as "of concern," and several countries instituted travel restrictions in an attempt to prevent the spread of the mutation throughout the world. Omicron also reported as zoonotic disease.