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| LETTER TO THE EDITOR |
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| Ahead of print publication |
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Don't shoot the messenger
Nikunja Kumar Das, Rajashri Patil, Shahzad Mirza, Sameena Khan
Department of Microbiology, Dr D Y Patil Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre, Dr D Y Patil Vidyapeeth, Pimpri, Pune, Maharashtra, India
| Date of Submission | 03-Dec-2021 |
| Date of Decision | 12-Mar-2022 |
| Date of Acceptance | 14-Mar-2022 |
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Correspondence Address:
Rajashri Patil,
Flat No 402, G Wing, Richwood Society, Sector 11, Spine Road, Chikhli Pradhikaran, Pimpri, Pune - 411 019, Maharashtra
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None DOI: 10.4103/mjdrdypu.mjdrdypu_957_21
The coronavirus pandemic which has already taken a toll around the world is now being taken over by the new variant. The Omicron variant reported from South Africa has created quite a stir in the world, prompting governments to take some radical approaches like mulling over the cancellation of flights from the countries which reported this variant.[1] Within a week, more than a dozen countries have reported the same variant, with cases confirmed from Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, and North America.[2] In all likelihood, this variant may already have been present in many places and South Africa may not actually be the origin of this variant. Just that they detected it first with their robust genetic scrutiny. They isolated the virus and sequenced it in a community, which recently saw a rapid unexplained rise of cases in recent weeks. Dutch authorities are now claiming that they may have got the Omicron strain even before the South African authorities declared it.[3],[4] So are they not penalized for reporting a variant of concern. It is not very clear about the transmissibility and virulence of the virus. Also, it is not certain, whether the newer variant will get any foothold in places that have the Delta variant as the predominant strain. But it has already hit the economy hard with impending travel restrictions and stock markets crashing with concerns over the new variant.[5]
It will take some time, to truly gauge the damage this variant can cause. As seen in the present pandemic, the virus has been evolving to decrease its virulence with mutations, so as to live in sync with humans in the future. This may be a natural progression towards endemicity but cannot be generalized. This evolution can be a threat that can become more lethal due to certain ecological forces leading to contouring the action of the virus.
Financial support and sponsorship
Nil.
Conflicts of interest
There are no conflicts of interest.
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