Jordan News

Emad Abdel Karim

There were news revealed by medical research about the emergence of a new mutant of the Corona virus, which was recently monitored in several countries, including Denmark, Britain and Cyprus.

Medical research indicated that the Omicron sub-mutant, which was named (BA.2), spreads faster, causes severe symptoms of the disease, and is expected to be able to nullify some of the main tools used to combat Covid-19, as it is also resistant to some types of treatment.

Circumstances in Jordan are conducive to the emergence of the new mutant

Respiratory and chest diseases specialist Dr. Muhammad Al-Tarawneh said that the conditions in Jordan indicate the extension and continuation of the wave, and the increase in infections may help with the emergence of the new mutation on the shoulders of the current wave, which has not ended and the epidemiological curve has not decreased.

Al-Tarawneh indicated that the mitigating measures that we will witness, the conduct of municipal elections, the re-education of public schools in schools, the decrease in the rate of taking vaccinations, and the length of the period of receiving previous vaccinations, so that the immunity of vaccinated people has decreased.

Al-Tarawneh revealed that before the detection period, two infections with the new mutant were detected through a laboratory, but no attention was paid to the infection, as there were studies indicating that the BA.2 mutant belongs to the same characteristics as the BA.1 mutant, and therefore there was no interest. Before it is confirmed that they are of different characteristics and with different symptoms.

Al-Tarawneh explained that the World Health Organization has classified mutagens into several classifications according to the degree of danger and impact if the mutant omicron consists of 3 subdivisions: BA 1, BA.2 and BA.3, which are subcategories that indicate the danger of the second spawning of the omicron.

Equity in the distribution of vaccines contributed to the emergence of mutations

Al-Tarawneh pointed out that the lack of justice in distributing vaccines around the world has led to the emergence and spread of mutant in the countries of the world, where the more the virus spreads, the more mutations are.

And he indicated that the absence and lack of vaccinations in countries and regions in the world contributed to the emergence of mutagens from the Corona virus, as Delta appeared in India and Omicron appeared in Africa due to the lack of vaccination in these countries, and also because vaccination rates in some countries did not exceed 10% of the population.

He referred to the great state’s monopoly on treatments and vaccinations, as Jordan is still waiting until the moment to supply it with the oral treatment for Corona, which was requested from the American company Pfizer, as the earliest period during which the treatment may reach Jordan may extend to the end of next March. This contributes to a large spread of the virus and a rise in infections.

He called on companies to relinquish intellectual property to treat the virus so that countries that have the capabilities can manufacture these treatments and protect themselves and their society, and this requires a diplomatic effort with these countries that contribute to the manufacture of treatments to provide services to countries suffering from high infections.