Studies in South Africa show that Omicron has a higher "asymptomatic carriage"

Studies in South Africa show that Omicron has a higher "asymptomatic carriage". JOHANNESBURG, Jan 11 (Reuters) - Preliminary results from two South African clinical trials suggest that the rate of "asymptomatic carriage" is much higher than previous versions of the Omicron coronavirus variant, which may explain why it spread so quickly. All over the world.

Studies in South Africa show that Omicron has a higher "asymptomatic carriage"

Studies, one of which was conducted when omikron infection was on the rise in South Africa last month, and another that re-sampled participants at the same time, found that a much larger number of people tested positive for the coronavirus but showed no symptoms in comparison. Previous trial. .

Ubuntu's study evaluated the effectiveness of the Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine (MRNA.O) in people living with HIV, 31% of the 230 participants screened positive, and verified that 56 samples of Omicron were available for sequencing analysis. Came from

"This is the complete opposite of the positivity rate before Omicron, which ranged from 1% to 2.4%," the researchers said in a statement.

In a subset of trials evaluating the efficacy of the Johnson & Johnson (JNJ.N) COVID-19 vaccine, the average rate of asymptomatic carriers during the Omicron period increased from 2.6% to 16% during beta and delta outbreaks.

"The study included 577 previously vaccinated subjects from Sison ... with results suggesting a higher carrier rate, even among those who have been vaccinated," the researchers said.

They added that "the high rate of asymptomatic carriers is probably an important factor in the rapid and widespread spread of the variant, even in populations with previously high rates of coronavirus infection."

South Africa has seen an increase in COVID-19 infections since late November, when its scientists warned the world about Omicron. But since then, new cases have declined and the first indications are that the wave has been characterized by less serious illnesses than the previous ones.