The latest variant of concern by the World Health Organization: An Overview

Abstract

The latest coronavirus strain – Omicron variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 – has been identified as the “variant of concern” by the World Health Organization and has emerged as a global concern. The mutations of its genome encode a section in its spike protein which is utilized to infect host cells. Omicron is more transmissible than its Delta predecessor and has rapidly become the dominant strain in the U. S. This article reviews the recent information and literature available for the Omicron variant.