GS-2:Issues Relating to Development and Management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources

GS-3: Science and Technology- Developments and their Applications and Effects in Everyday Life

Key phrases:  WHO, Omicron variant, NCDC

Why in news:

New Covid Variant B.1.1.529 reported in South Africa and is a variant of concern as per WHO. 

Analysis:

Key points:

• New Covid Variant B.1.1.529 variant was first reported to the WHO from South Africa on November 24.
• The advisory panel of the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID new variant B.1.1.529 to be a ‘variant of concern’ and named it as ‘Omicron’. 
• The WHO has classified it as a highly transmissible virus and named it omicron under its Greek-letter system. 
• Notably, the announcement from the United Nations health agency marks the first time in months that WHO has classified a COVID-19 variant as such.
• Who monitors the evolution of viruses? 
• Technical Advisory Group on SARS-CoV-2 Virus Evolution (TAG-VE), an independent group of experts that periodically monitors and evaluates the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 and assesses if specific mutations and combinations of mutations alter the behaviour of the virus. 

World Health Organisation on Omicron:

• The WHO said the new variant has a large number of mutations, some of which are concerning.
• It also added that the number of cases of this variant appears to be increasing in almost all provinces in South Africa.
• The WHO also added that several labs have indicated that for one widely used PCR test, one of the three target genes is not detected and this test can therefore be used as a marker for this variant.
• Based on the evidence indicative of a detrimental change in Covid-19 epidemiology, the TAG-VE has advised the WHO that this variant should be designated as a VOC.
• The WHO further added that there are a number of studies underway and the TAG-VE will continue to evaluate this variant.
• The WHO also stated that the new findings will be communicated with Member States and to the public as needed.

India and Omicron 

The Centre will now review SOP on testing and surveillance of international passengers, especially from countries in the risk category.

• Focus on genome sequencing. 
• Intensive testing and tracking 
• Larger focus on vaccination drives. 
• The Health Ministry has instructed that in all hotspots, saturation testing and sending of positive samples quickly for genome sequencing to designated INSACOG labs must be ensured in collaboration with the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
• States should aim at achieving a positivity rate below 5% while focusing on increasing the number of tests and share of RT-PCR tests to aid in early identification.

What is genome sequencing? 

A laboratory method that is used to determine the entire genetic makeup of a specific organism or cell type. This method can be used to find changes in areas of the genome. These changes may help scientists understand how specific diseases, such as cancer, form. Results of genomic sequencing may also be used to diagnose and treat disease.

Why is Omicron a concern? 

• The new Omicron variant has reportedly got over 30 mutations in the spike protein region, giving it the potential to develop an immune escape mechanism, and thus the efficacy of vaccines against it needs to be evaluated critically.
• The presence of spike protein facilitates a virus’ entry into the host cell and is responsible for making it transmissible and causing infection. 
• The new variant of coronavirus reportedly has more than 30 mutations at the spike protein region and therefore has the potential of developing immune escape mechanisms. As most vaccines (work by) forming antibodies against the spike protein, so many mutations at the spike protein region may lead to a decreased efficacy of Covid-19 vaccines.

How does Covid-19 vaccine work? 

mRNA vaccines contain material from the virus that causes COVID-19 that gives our cells instructions for how to make a harmless protein that is unique to the virus. After our cells make copies of the protein, they destroy the genetic material from the vaccine.

Omicron, Vaccines and more:

• A variant-neutral vaccine that could deal with the threat of emerging mutations of coronaviruses has become the next frontier in vaccine development.
• There are also worries about whether current vaccines will be effective against the new variant. Vaccine producers such as Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca have said they have already started working on the new variant, and if need be, they can deliver the updated vaccines in 100 days.
• Moderna has begun working on multi-valent booster candidates in the clinic that were designed to anticipate mutations such as those that have emerged in the omicron variant
• Moderna will also rapidly advance an omicron-specific booster candidate. This candidate is part of the company’s strategy to advance variant-specific candidates for a subset of variants of significant concern.
• Even as companies jump on to update their vaccines, scientists are working on “beta coronavirus” vaccines that cover all future variants.  One way could be that the multi variant vaccine can be made wherein the antigen is designed using artificial intelligence and machine learning tools. This is possible, but tools are needed to test them such as controls in an experiment where samples or sera (blood samples) are readily available from infected people or vaccinated people.
• Norway-based Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations announced funding to MigVax and Vaccines and Infectious Disease Organizations of the University of Saskatchewan to provide a proof of concept for a “variant-proof” vaccines that tackle ‘beta coronaviruses’ that offer protection against new variants of concern.

About WHO:

• The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health. 
• Founded on 7th April 1948.
• Main objective of WHO-the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health. 
• Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.
• India became a party to the WHO Constitution on 12 January 1948.
• The WHO's mandate includes advocating for universal health care, monitoring public health risks, coordinating responses to health emergencies, and promoting health and well-being.
• It provides technical assistance to countries, sets international health standards, and collects data on global health issues.
• The WHO has played a leading role in several public health achievements, most notably the eradication of smallpox, the near-eradication of polio, and the development of an Ebola vaccine. 
• Its current priorities include communicable diseases, particularly HIV/AIDS, Ebola, COVID-19, malaria and tuberculosis; non-communicable diseases such as heart disease and cancer; healthy diet, nutrition, and food security, occupational health.

NCDC (National Centre for Disease Control) formerly known as NICD

• The National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) had its origin as the Central Malaria Bureau, established at Kasauli (Himachal Pradesh) in 1909 and following expansion was renamed in 1927 as the Malaria Survey of India. The organization was shifted to Delhi in 1938 and called the Malaria Institute of India (MII).
• In view of the drastic reduction achieved in the incidence of malaria under National Malaria Eradication Programme (NMEP), Government of India decided to reorganize and expand the activities of the institute to cover other communicable diseases. Thus, on July 30, 1963 the erstwhile MII was renamed as NICD to shoulder these additional responsibilities.
• The institute was established to function as a national centre of excellence for control of communicable diseases.
• The function of the institute also included various areas of training and research using a multidisciplinary integrated approach. 
• The institute was, in addition, expected to provide expertise to the States and Union Territories (UTs) on rapid health assessment and laboratory based diagnostic services. 
• Surveillance of communicable diseases and outbreak investigation also formed an indispensable part of its activities

Way forward 

The new variant is definitely a concern for India after facing two covid waves, India should not forget the covid mantra of masking up and maintaining social distance along with the below measures:

• Intensive containment
• Active surveillance
• Increased coverage of vaccination
• Genome sequencing 
• Stricter rules at international airports

Trained human resources, infrastructure, logistics and procurement should be planned and strengthened considering the geographical spread of the pandemic.

Source:The Hindu 

Prelims question:

Q. Consider the following statements about mRNA vaccine:

1. mRNA vaccines represent a promising alternative to conventional vaccine approaches because of their high potency, capacity for rapid development.
2. As mRNA is a non-infectious, non-integrating platform, there is no potential risk of infection or insertional mutagenesis.

3. mRNA vaccines have the potential for rapid, inexpensive and scalable manufacturing.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (d)