Omicron, the second variant of concern after the Delta SARS-CoV-2 variant.

Several SARS-CoV-2 variants have been identified since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic:

• Alpha (B.1.1.7 and Q lineages)
• Beta (B.1.351 and descendent lineages)
• Gamma (P.1 and descendent lineages)
• Epsilon (B.1.427 and B.1.429)
• Eta (B.1.525)
• Iota (B.1.526)
• Kappa (B.1.617.1)
• 1.617.3
• Mu (B.1.621, B.1.621.1)
• Zeta (P.2)

On November 30, 2021, the U.S. government SARS-CoV-2 Interagency Group (SIG) classified Omicron as Variant of Concern. This classification was based on the following:

• Detection of cases attributed to Omicron in multiple countries, including among those without travel history.
• Transmission and replacement of the Delta variant in South Africa.
• The number and locations of substitutions in the spike protein.
• Available data for other variants with fewer substitutions in the spike protein that indicate a reduction in neutralization by sera from vaccinated or convalescent individuals.
• Available data for other variants with fewer substitutions in the spike protein that indicate reduced susceptibility to certain monoclonal antibody treatments.

Possible attributes of a variant of concern are:

• Evidence of impact on diagnostics, treatments, or vaccines
  • Widespread interference with diagnostic test targets
  • Evidence of substantially decreased susceptibility to one or more class of therapies
  • Evidence of significantly decreased neutralization by antibodies generated during previous infection or vaccination
  • Evidence of reduced vaccine-induced protection from severe disease
• Evidence of increased transmissibility
• Evidence of increased disease severity

Every variant of Concern is being closely monitored and characterized by the federal agencies.

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