Thanks to the professionalism and seriousness shown by the laboratory in Chania in the travel history of the 60-year-old Haniotis, a permanent resident of Johannesburg, the University of Crete and the Laboratory of Virology identified the first case of the Omicron mutation in Greece.
As Professor George Sourvinos, a professor of clinical virology at the university and a member of the EODY board, explains to protothema.gr, the sample was received by the laboratory on Monday and today at dawn the results came out:
"The analysis of the sample was done in the virology laboratory of the University of Crete. We analyzed it. We received the sample on Monday and today at dawn we had the result. The traveler's history was what made us all suspect. The first test, the preliminary one, had indications, as a result of which we proceed to a complete genetic analysis ".
According to the history, the patient arrived in the country on November 26, however he showed some symptoms, as a result of which both he and his family were worried.
"The patient had done a rapid test, after PCR and the laboratory of Chania that he had visited sent us the sample because of his travel history. He had some suspicions and on his own initiative the laboratory sent us the sample. We did the analysis and so now we have in Crete the first case of the Omicron mutation. It was a matter of time before it was found, we knew it and we supported it. "
The existence of a case of the Omicron variant in our country was confirmed today by the Minister of Health, Thanos Plevris, during the specialization of the measures for the vaccination of 60 years and over.
He is a man of Greek origin, a permanent resident of Johannesburg, who traveled by air from South Africa to Crete. As Mr. Plevris pointed out, a detailed tracking of his contacts has begun and he has been isolated.
Information states that the man is vaccinated.
The minister noted that it was a matter of time to locate the specific executive in Greece and assured that our country complies with all protocols.
The president of EODY Theoklis Zaoutis clarified that the patient arrived in Crete on November 26 and underwent a rapid test at the airport, which was negative. But then he started to show mild symptoms, as a result of which he underwent a daily rapid test, which was positive on November 29.
The pcr test that followed gave suspicious results for the Omicron mutation, which was confirmed this morning. He also stressed that the tracking of his contacts has been completed and all persons related to the patient are checked daily with tests. So far all his contacts are negative in the coronavirus.
It is noted that the patient, who remains in quarantine, still shows mild symptoms.
As Mr. Zaoutis mentioned, it was a matter of time before a case of the Omicron variant was identified in our country.
The president of EODY, regarding the Omicron variant, said that we do not yet know if it has increased contagion, while there are gaps in the knowledge about the morbidity, although the first data show that it causes a mild disease.
Regarding the effectiveness of the vaccines, he pointed out that this also remains unknown, but it is possible that there is immunity in this mutation, but we do not know how much immunity.
Mr. Zaoutis concluded by saying once again that vaccination is the only solution.
Source: protothema.gr