世卫组织：奥密克戎毒株感染病例3天内翻倍！

当地时间18日，世界卫生组织在最新发布的技术简报中指出，截至12月16日，全球已有89个国家和地区出现奥密克戎毒株。

世卫组织表示，在出现社区传播的国家和地区，奥密克戎毒株的传播速度明显快于德尔塔毒株，奥密克戎毒株感染病例在1.5至3天时间内就会翻倍。

世卫组织还表示，奥密克戎毒株正在人口免疫水平较高的国家迅速传播，但目前尚不清楚这是由于该病毒逃避免疫的能力强，还是因为其固有的传染性增加或是两者兼而有之。

The Omicron coronavirus variant has been reported in 89 countries and regions, and the number of cases is doubling in 1.5 to 3 days in areas with community transmission, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Saturday.

Omicron is spreading rapidly in countries with high levels of population immunity, but it is unclear if this is due to the virus' ability to evade immunity, its inherent increased transmissibility or a combination of both, the WHO said in an update.

奥密克戎毒株被首次发现后不久，世卫组织于11月26日就将其列为令人担忧的变种。

世卫组织强调，对于奥密克戎毒株感染病例临床严重程度，因目前所得数据有限，若要了解疫苗接种及已有的免疫能力的作用，仍需要更多资料。

最后，以英国和南非的住院人数继续上升，许多医疗系统有可能很快变得不堪重负为例，世卫组织警告道，由于病例增加速度如此之快，这种趋势或导致医疗系统不胜负荷情况发生。

The agency designated Omicron a variant of concern on November 26, soon after it was first detected, and much is still not known about it, including the severity of the illness it causes.

"There are still limited data on the clinical severity of Omicron," the WHO said. "More data are needed to understand the severity profile and how severity is impacted by vaccination and pre-existing immunity."

It added, "There are still limited available data, and no peer-reviewed evidence, on vaccine efficacy or effectiveness to date for Omicron."

The WHO warned that with cases rising so rapidly, hospitals could be overwhelmed in some places.

"Hospitalizations in the UK and South Africa continue to rise, and given rapidly increasing case counts, it is possible that many healthcare systems may become quickly overwhelmed."

根据美国疾控中心的数据，目前全美至少已经有41个州和地区报告有奥密克戎毒株感染病例。因此美国健康专家悲观预测，美国正面临着又一个黑暗的冬天。

当地时间16日，美国明尼苏达大学传染病研究与政策中心主任迈克尔·奥斯特霍尔姆（Michael Osterholm）表示，随着奥密克戎毒株的传播，一场“病毒风暴”即将袭击美国。

此外，美国疾控中心主任瓦伦斯基在本周初就曾表示，奥密克戎毒株感染的病例正在该国迅速增加，预计该毒株在接下来数周内将成为美国新冠病毒的主要毒株。

Health experts have warned of a "viral blizzard" in the United States as the new Omicron variant spreads rapidly nationwide and has already been found in at least 41 states.

In recent weeks, COVID-19 cases, deaths and hospitalizations have all surged in the country, with many parts experiencing high levels of community transmission, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

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