This variant is currently known as B.1.1.529. But on Friday it was named Omicron by the World Health Organization.

Notably, it is a much more mutated variant. Professor Tulio de Oliveira, director of the Center for Epidemiological Response and Innovation in South Africa, described the variant as "an unusual combination of mutations" and "very different" from other widely circulated variants.

"We are amazed by this variant, this variant has taken a big leap in evolution and its mutation is much higher than we expected," he said.

While interacting with the media, Prof. De Oliveira said the new variant had a total of 50 mutations and more than 30 spike proteins, the target of most vaccines we have developed. At the same time, this is the key through which the virus enters our body.

વેક્સિન ના લીધી હોય તો આજે જ લઈ લો! WHO ના મુખ્ય વૈજ્ઞાનીકે ગણાવ્યા Omicron સામેના ફાયદા

A closer look reveals that there are ten mutations in the receptor-binding domain of this virus (the part of the virus that first comes into contact with our body). Notably, there were only two of these mutations in the Delta virus. Which has taken many countries hostage.

Such a large mutation may have been caused by a single patient who failed to defeat the virus.

સાચવજો! જીવલેણ કોરોના વાયરસનો સતત કહેર, રાજ્યમાં છેલ્લા 24 કલાકમાં 45 કેસો નોંધાયા

However, the current concern is that the virus is very different from the one in Wuhan, China.

This means that a vaccine prepared using a strain of the original virus may not be effective against the virus.

શું ફરી આવશે લોકડાઉન? Omicron તો જબરો વકર્યો જુઓ ક્યાં-ક્યાં શું હાલત?

ઓમિક્રૉન વૅરિયન્ટ વિશે આપણે શું જાણીએ છીએ?