To do this, they will focus on symptomatic patients, both of the delta and omicron variants, to compare their symptoms, effects and progression. «We will be able to find out some more information because, to date, it cannot be stated whether this variant is more or less serious," Antonio Rezusta, head of the Servet Microbiology service, explains to this newspaper. For now, The initiative focuses only on symptomatic patients.
«This is going to mean a big step because we want to give the best conclusions about the effects of omicron and the greatest service to society," says Rezusta. «It was clear that this variant was going to reach Aragon», he adds, something he already ventured a few days ago in statements to this newspaper. «From now on it will be common to detect it and I think we are going to have quite a few. Not thinking about that would be a mistake.", Says the expert.
To carry out the investigation, the participation of a multidisciplinary team. «There are many people involved and when there is suspicion, another PCR must be done. That doubles the effort,” emphasizes Rezusta. This laboratory already had to reinforce its staff a few weeks ago due to the avalanche of tests due to the rise in infections.
Unrelated infected
In fact, between Tuesday, December 7 and yesterday, this Miguel Servet laboratory has analyzed nearly 10.000 positive covid samples. "During the weekend we did not do sequencing, that is why we had to send the three suspected cases of omicron to the CIBA (Center for Biomedical Research of Aragon) for confirmation," explains Rezusta. «We ran into them around 14.25:XNUMX p.m. on Friday. When something like this happens, you have to repeat another PCR, which entails more work, and we're already into the weekend," he clarifies.
The first omicron positives in the community were detected, as EL PERIÓDICO reported, in three different health centers of sectors I and II. «With the data we have, They are not related to each other. That is as long as, at the time of tracing and giving the list of close contacts, they have told us the truth.. We trust that this will be the case," adds the expert. "We also don't know if they have had a relationship with any traveler from South Africa," he says.
