Thread by @epigiri

More actions points can be following :-
1. Since day of 1st case of #Omicron #B.1.1.529, establish travel history & identify secondary transmission throughout world. If primary case was in early November, not difficult to miss areas of circulation.
1ofn who.int/news/item/26-1…

2. Botswana, South Africa & Hong Kong cannot be the only areas where #Omicron has travelled. These areas are the ones that have probably better surveillance and genomic sequencing and hence have reported in timely manner. Absence of reporting is not absence of circulation.
2 of n

3. Imposing travel restrictions, restricting entry from few countries is NOT going to help either prevent or control the spread of #Omicron. It’s akin to closing stable door after horse has bolted. Instead, identify cluster of cases of recent origin & do genomic sequencing.
3/n

4. The world failed in expanding vaccine Coverage of Vulnerable population across globe. This led to development of #Omicron.

Is there any doubt that more variants will be there in future? NO

Do the rich countries change the course of action? Sadly and Disgustingly, NO.

4/n

Instead, rich countries will quickly get updated mRNA vaccine against #Omicron. With boosters & updated vaccines, firms will be happy to stay in rich countries and expand the production line with greater profits. None of these actions will prevent newer variants in future.
5 of n

5. Congratulations to agencies which picked up #Omicron. Strong #surveillance for COVID19 (epidemiological + genomic) can detect outbreaks. Regions have turned from <1 to 30% test positivity in 3 weeks.

https://twitter.com/chrischirp/status/1463885545935974412?s=21

Watch out for any area with cluster of cases.
6 of n

6. Similar to ambitious aim of global elimination of covid19, updating #mRNA vaccines against each variant is a futile goal. While resources are used for this false sense of security; cannot keep pace with relentless circulation elsewhere leading to next variant of virus.
7 o n

7. Assuming that primary case of #Omicron was in month of November, investigating clusters in past month would not be that difficult.
How to find?
-Cluster of cases +
-Positive Genomic sequencing results +/-
-Travel history to other country

https://twitter.com/epigiri/status/1464325201882230801?s=20

8 of n

I had written earlier (Feb 18, 2021) that higher circulation anywhere is a threat everywhere; it will result in more variants of concern.
thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/…

Strengthening pandemic preparedness (and surveillance as a component) is imperative global priority.
9 of n

Finally, expanding vaccination to poor countries & every susceptible person is not an act of charity that we need to demand, it is an absolute necessity.

The newer variants of #SARSCoV2 are reflecting the gross neglect of #equity like no time earlier. How long can we pretend?
n

@threadreaderapp unroll