New York, Aug 18 : The majority of people who are likely to be infected with the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 virus, the one that causes Covid-19 were unaware that they were suffering from the virus according to a recent study. Researchers from the Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars-Sinai included 2,479 patients who had donated blood samples before or following the beginning of the Omicron surge.
They identified 210 individuals who were likely to be affected with Omicron.Omicron variant, based on newly found levels of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 in their blood.
The research findings were released in JAMA Network Open, showed that only 44 percent percent of participants with recently positive SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were aware of being infected with the virus.The majority (56 percent) did not know of any recent infection with Covid-19.
Of the participants who were unaware that they had any illness, only 10% reported experiencing any symptoms they blamed on common cold or another kind of infection.
“More than one in two people affected with Omicron did not realize they were infected,” said Susan Cheng director of the Institute for Research on Healthy Aging in the Department of Cardiology at the Institute.
“Awareness is the key to helping us move past this epidemic,” she added.
Previous studies have indicated that as high as 25% and possibly up to 80 percent of people who are infected with SARS-CoV-2 don’t experience symptoms.
As compared to other variants of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron is the most common variant.Omicron variant is linked with typically less severe symptoms that could include cough, fatigue headache, sore throat, or running nose.
“Our study findings provide evidence that infections that aren’t detected can lead to an increase in spread of the Omicron virus” stated Sandy Y.Joung from Cedars-Sinai.”A lower level of awareness of infection may have contributed to the rapid spreading of Omicron.”
More research involving more amounts of people of diverse communities and ethnicities are required to discover the specific factors that are connected with the lack of awareness of infections according to the researchers.
“We hope that people will take a look at the findings and be thinking, ah, I was at a gathering where someone was positive, or I’m starting to feel a bit down.Perhaps I should take an instant test.’ The more we know about our own risk and potential risks, the better off we can be in protecting our health of the general public as well as our own,” said Cheng.
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