Understanding the Silent Spreaders: Who Is Most Vulnerable to the New Omicron COVID-19 Variant?

Medical experts are closely monitoring the behavior of the new COVID-19 variant and sharing critical updates with the public.

This week has been filled with significant developments, yet the spotlight remains on the emerging Omicron variant. First identified just weeks ago in Africa, Omicron has rapidly spread to several European countries, Israel, the United Kingdom, and is approaching the United States. Cases have even been reported in Finland, near the US border.

Currently, medical professionals have limited data on Omicron’s behavior, with fewer than 100 confirmed cases worldwide. However, concerns are rising that this mutation can evade antibodies and predominantly infects younger individuals under 30. While children often experience mild or no symptoms and recover swiftly, adults may face more severe health risks.

"Primarily, Omicron poses the greatest threat to older adults and those with chronic illnesses. However, compared to previous variants, children under 2 years old and adults aged 20 to 39 appear increasingly vulnerable," explains virologist Dr. Nicholas Kryuchkov.

Common symptoms include extreme fatigue and unusual headaches. Some patients also report fever, sweating, chills, cough, sore throat, and nasal congestion.

Experts urge caution before assuming Omicron causes only mild illness. "It is premature to conclude that all Omicron infections are mild. The African Medical Association suggested it might be less severe, but their data is limited and focused mainly on young individuals," a virologist told Moscow 24.

Omicron carries an unprecedented number of mutations, especially in the spike protein, which helps it evade immune defenses. This variant spreads exceptionally fast, raising concerns about its infectiousness.

"This variant has an astonishing 32 mutations in the spike protein alone — far more than the Delta and Beta variants combined," warns a medical expert.

There is growing evidence that Omicron may be particularly dangerous for individuals with chronic heart conditions. In such patients, the virus can trigger serious health complications. It is strongly recommended that those who have recovered from COVID-19 undergo thorough medical evaluations, including cardiology consultations.

"Monitoring patients with cardiovascular diseases has shown that post-COVID-19 infection increases the risk of heart and vascular complications," stated Russian Academy of Sciences academician Sergey Boytsov.

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