The rapid spread of coronavirus cases in Greece in recent days and especially in Attica, where there is a rapid increase with 1,000 additional daily infections within 4 days, has alarmed scientists. In fact, according to estimates, in a percentage of about 10% this may be due to Omicron.

The presence of the new mutation, combined with the increased mobility of people due to the holidays, may lead to an explosive increase in infections, which may reach 9,000 daily cases next Tuesday, according to mathematical models of the University of Crete and Professor . Pulmonology, Nikos Tzanakis.

The dizzying spread of the new Omicron strain, which has the ability to infect a much larger number of people at the same time, carries the risk of putting asymmetric pressure on the health system, as there are still many unvaccinated people who remain unprotected against this new threat. . .

What do we know about infections in vaccinated people

Although many details about the Omicron variant remain unknown, experts are slowly beginning to decipher the mechanisms of action of the new virus and how it affects people who are vaccinated and unvaccinated, or who have had a previous Covid infection.

For example, people exposed to Omicro appear to get sick faster and may have symptoms that are different from those of other variants.

What are the symptoms of Omicron?

Early evidence suggests that the majority of people who become infected, and at least those who have been vaccinated against Covid, develop a mild illness that may resemble the common cold.

According to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which is included in the scientific findings of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the symptoms that do not appear to be related to the variant of the term are as follows:

• Cough
• Fatigue or fatigue
• Congestion and runny nose

Unlike previous variants of the coronavirus, loss of taste and smell seems to be a more rare symptom. However, the scientists emphasize that these conclusions are based on first reports and clinical findings of doctors and not on scientific studies.

In addition, they may be completely certain sections of the population, such as the young, the healthy and the vaccinated.

“It is clear that if you have been vaccinated, especially if you have taken a booster third dose, Omicron tends to cause milder infections.” says Dr. William Schaffner, who specializes in infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee.

“What we have not yet seen is what Omicron can cause to unvaccinated people.” he added.

The above conclusions have been reached by Greek scientists, as pointed out at a recent scientific event of EKPA, the Professor of Pathological Physiology – Infectious Diseases EKPA, Nikolaos Sypsas:

“They are symptoms similar to those of the common cold. However, when the person is vaccinated and gets coronavirus, he has symptoms of a common cold without a fever! The symptoms, therefore, change based on the mutations. Now with Omicron, data from England show that: headache, sore throat, sneezing, cough, runny nose, are the symptoms of Covid. In this case the patient should not say that “I have a common cold”, but Covid and proceed to a laboratory test. Preferably PCR molecular, but also antigenic Rapid Test “, said Mr. Sypsas.

Omicron: Indications that it may not cause severe pneumonia

There is also growing evidence for Omicron that it may not invade the lower respiratory tract and deep into the lungs, as in previous variants.

A study published online by the University of Hong Kong, but not yet published in the scientific press, found that while the baby causes a less severe lung infection, it can invade the upper respiratory tract more quickly.

Thus, the virus may cause more bronchitis than pneumonia, scientists have reported.

Patients with acute bronchitis do not have shortness of breath, but intense coughing and sputum production, while pneumonia causes shortness of breath and a feeling of fatigue.

However, experts point out that it is dangerous for patients who do not proceed to “self-diagnosis” based on the symptoms, as in addition to Omicron, the Delta variant continues to circulate so it is extremely motivated to draw arbitrary conclusions without a medical diagnosis.

For the above reasons, doctors urge patients with cold or flu symptoms to seek medical advice.

The contribution of the third dose to the prevention of serious disease is important

Scientists are urging people to get vaccinated, especially with the third dose of the vaccine, to reduce the risk of serious illness.

In Greece so far, about 3,202,000 people out of almost 7 million citizens who have been vaccinated in two doses have taken the booster dose.