The Technical Advisory Group on SARS-CoV-2 Virus Evolution (TAG-VE) is an
independent group of experts that periodically monitors and evaluates the
evolution of SARS-CoV-2 and assesses if specific mutations and combinations
of mutations alter the behaviour of the virus. The TAG-VE was convened on 26
November 2021 to assess the SARS-CoV-2 variant: B.1.1.529.
The B.1.1.529 variant was first reported to WHO from South Africa on 24
November 2021. The epidemiological situation in South Africa has been
characterized by three distinct peaks in reported cases, the latest of which
was predominantly the Delta variant. In recent weeks, infections have
increased steeply, coinciding with the detection of B.1.1.529 variant. The
first known confirmed B.1.1.529 infection was from a specimen collected on 9
November 2021.
This variant has a large number of mutations, some of which are concerning.
Preliminary evidence suggests an increased risk of reinfection with this
variant, as compared to other VOCs. The number of cases of this variant
appears to be increasing in almost all provinces in South Africa. Current
SARS-CoV-2 PCR diagnostics continue to detect this variant. Several labs
have indicated that for one widely used PCR test, one of the three target
genes is not detected (called S gene dropout or S gene target failure) and
this test can therefore be used as marker for this variant, pending
sequencing confirmation. Using this approach, this variant has been detected
at faster rates than previous surges in infection, suggesting that this
variant may have a growth advantage.
There are a number of studies underway and the TAG-VE will continue to
evaluate this variant. WHO will communicate new findings with Member States
and to the public as needed.
Based on the evidence presented indicative of a detrimental change in
COVID-19 epidemiology, the TAG-VE has advised WHO that this variant should
be designated as a VOC, and the WHO has designated B.1.1.529 as a VOC, named
Omicron.
As such, countries are asked to do the following:
- enhance surveillance and sequencing efforts to better understand circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants.
- submit complete genome sequences and associated metadata to a publicly available database, such as GISAID.
- report initial cases/clusters associated with VOC infection to WHO through the IHR mechanism.
- where capacity exists and in coordination with the international community, perform field investigations and laboratory assessments to improve understanding of the potential impacts of the VOC on COVID-19 epidemiology, severity, effectiveness of public health and social measures, diagnostic methods, immune responses, antibody neutralization, or other relevant characteristics.
Individuals are reminded to take measures to reduce their risk of COVID-19,
including proven public health and social measures such as wearing
well-fitting masks, hand hygiene, physical distancing, improving ventilation
of indoor spaces, avoiding crowded spaces, and getting vaccinated.
For reference, WHO has working definitions for SARS-CoV-2 Variant of
Interest (VOI) and Variant of Concern (VOC).
A SARS-CoV-2 VOI is a SARS-CoV-2 variant:
- with genetic changes that are predicted or known to affect virus characteristics such as transmissibility, disease severity, immune escape, diagnostic or therapeutic escape; AND
- that has been identified as causing significant community transmission or multiple COVID-19 clusters, in multiple countries with increasing relative prevalence alongside increasing number of cases over time, or other apparent epidemiological impacts to suggest an emerging risk to global public health.
A SARS-CoV-2 VOC is a SARS-CoV-2 variant that meets the definition of a VOI (see above) and, through a comparative assessment, has been demonstrated to be associated with one or more of the following changes at a degree of global public health significance:
- increase in transmissibility or detrimental change in COVID-19 epidemiology; OR
- increase in virulence or change in clinical disease presentation; OR
- decrease in effectiveness of public health and social measures or available diagnostics, vaccines, therapeutics
