NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews
The first known Texas case of the COVID-19 “Omicron” B.1.1.529 variant has been identified in a resident of Harris County.
The case, a woman in her 40s from northwest Harris County contracted the COVID-19 Omicron variant recently. The person is fully vaccinated with no recent travel history.
The woman experienced COVID-19 symptoms and has not required hospitalization.
“It’s normal for viruses to mutate, and given how quickly Omicron spread in southern Africa, we’re not surprised that it showed up here,” said Dr. John Hellerstedt, DSHS commissioner. “Getting vaccinated and continuing to use prevention strategies, including wearing a mask when you are around people you don’t live with, social distancing, handwashing and getting tested when you have symptoms, will help slow the spread of the virus and help end the pandemic.”
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The CDC has reported that the Omicron variant has been identified in 17 states across the U.S. There is still a lot of unknown information about the Omicron variant.
Harris County Public Health (HCPH) recommends all individuals 5 years and older get vaccinated. To be protected against the Omicron variant and all other current COVID-19 known variants, individuals must be fully vaccinated and get booster shot when they are eligible. Being vaccinated provides be best protection from developing complications or death resulting from COVID-19.
- Belgium: Antwerp Zoo reports COVID-19 in hippos
- Omicron appears to cause mostly mild disease: Early and anecdotal evidence
- Germany COVID-19: ‘The current case numbers are far too high’, RKI President says
- Chinese official: ‘Our initial finding is that they [vaccines] still have marked effects on preventing severe diseases and deaths’
- England Omicron cases top 100, More cases in Scotland
- Brazil reports 5 Omicron cases in São Paulo and the Federal District
- Costa Rica reports malaria outbreak in the North, 138 confirmed cases in past month
