NewsDesk  @infectiousdiseasenews

Mutations happen with viruses all the time and the Omicron COVID-19 variant is the latest and is receiving a lot of media attention.

Today is December 1, 2021, a very short time since the first cases were detected and the date of the first confirmed case in the US–so the questions are–What do we know and what do we not know?

Joining me today to look at the Omicron variant B.1.1.529 is Michael Osterholm, PhD. Dr. Osterholm is the director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) at the University of Minnesota.

Watch the interview:

Or listen to the podcast:

Related:

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Other podcasts with Dr. Osterholm:

Michael Osterholm, PhD on lockdowns, masks and COVID-19 testing

Bioterrorism, antibiotic resistance and pandemic flu: Discussing ‘Deadliest Enemy’

MERS: Will it ever spread out of the Arabian peninsula such that the rest of the world should be concerned?

The story behind the Toxic Shock Syndrome outbreak investigation of the late 70s-early 80s

H7N9 avian influenza in China: Should we be worried?