Nine cases of Omicron detected in Kosovo

The National Institute of Public Health of Kosovo (IKSHPK) said it has detected nine cases with the Omicron variant of the coronavirus.

According to the announcement, two cases are imported from the United States, two from London, United Kingdom, one from France, and four cases with the Omicron variant detected are in the Municipality of Mitrovica, who deny travel history and having had contact with anyone from abroad.

"Following the appearance of the Omicron variant (B.1.1.529) in the world, Europe, the region and now also in Kosovo, it is expected to worsen the epidemiological situation," said the NIPHK.

A health worker analyzes several samples suspected of being coronavirus. Britain, June 2, 2021.

The National Institute for Public Health said the testing was carried out with additional kits received through the World Health Organization. The institute had announced on December 23 that it would be equipped with these kits in order to detect the new Omicron variant.

Health experts in Kosovo have said that the symptoms of the seasonal flu and the Omicron variant are similar, therefore they have requested that the differentiation be done through laboratory tests.

Meanwhile, some studies conducted in the world have suggested that the Omicron variant may be easier than Delta, which is currently the dominant variant in Kosovo.

Earlier in December, Kosovo sent more than 70 positive samples for analysis to a laboratory in Germany to see if they contained the Omicron variant.

This new variant of COVID-19 was first detected in South Africa in November. Since then it has spread to over 90 countries around the world.

Omicron is believed to be transmitted more quickly than previous variants, but scientists have not yet determined whether it causes more severe disease or whether it evades the protection offered by existing vaccines against the coronavirus.

Cases with Omicron have also been registered in the countries of the region: Albania, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia.

Unlike other countries in the region and Europe, the epidemiological situation in Kosovo is calmer and there are currently 349 active cases of coronavirus.

Coronavirus vaccines do not offer as much protection against Omicron as they do against previous coronavirus variants.

Vaccines, however, help a lot.

Laboratory results show that at least two doses of the vaccine may not be enough to prevent infection, but a booster dose from Pfizer or Moderna produces antibodies that fight the virus, enough to counteract Omicron.

Antibody levels drop after a while, and getting a booster dose causes levels to rise again. If a person gets a Pfizer booster dose, then antibody levels increase by 25 times.

In Kosovo, on December 9, the administration of the booster dose and the third dose of the coronavirus vaccine began.

The booster dose is given to citizens six months after receiving the second dose of the vaccine.

The third dose is given to people who have received two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, but who have not developed adequate immunity due to their weak immunity or concomitant diseases, upon the recommendation of the prescribing physician.

All people over the age of 18 will be able to receive the booster dose and the third dose.

According to the Ministry of Health, citizens will be notified of the vaccination date through phone messages, e-mail, and public announcements.