The Mystery of Omicron's Origin... Confirmed Cases in US and Europe Before First Report

Second Omicron Case in US
Confirmed Before South Africa WHO Report
Likely Already Spread in Europe

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] It has been confirmed that the new COVID-19 Omicron variant had already landed in the United States and Europe before being first reported to the World Health Organization (WHO).

The New York Times (NYT) reported on the 5th (local time) that "the second Omicron variant infection case in the U.S. was confirmed positive for COVID-19 on the 23rd of last month," adding, "this was one day before South Africa reported the new variant to the WHO."

The patient, residing in Minnesota in the northwestern U.S., has no recent history of overseas travel, suggesting a case of community transmission. He participated in an event in New York attended by over 53,000 people from the 19th to the 21st of last month and experienced symptoms such as coughing and fatigue, leading him to get tested for COVID-19.

The Minnesota Department of Health subsequently conducted genetic sequencing on his sample along with other recently collected samples. The patient was classified as infected with Omicron on the 2nd, nine days after his positive diagnosis.

The NYT stated, "On the 23rd of last month, when the Minnesota patient was diagnosed, it was not yet known that the new variant was spreading in South Africa," adding, "the new variant may have already been spreading in the U.S., including New York, before it was even named Omicron."

The patient, a man in his 30s, reportedly had received a booster shot. He said, "I am essentially the first Omicron infected person," and "how I contracted the new variant remains a mystery."

Earlier, there was evidence that Omicron had landed in the Netherlands before its existence was revealed. The Netherlands National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) announced that Omicron was detected in two COVID-19 positive samples collected between the 19th and 23rd of last month.

This means that Omicron may have already been spreading in Europe before South Africa reported it to the WHO on the 24th of last month. So far, Omicron variant infections have been reported in 17 countries in Europe. There have been a total of 182 cases, with Portugal having the most at 34 cases, followed by Norway (19 cases), the Netherlands (18 cases), Denmark (18 cases), and Germany (15 cases).