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Rise of Omicron in Hungary May Be Faster Than Official Reports Suggest

Hungary Today 2021.12.23.

On Monday, Hungary’s National Public Health Center (NNK) said that so far, 15 cases of the omicron variant of the coronavirus have been identified. But in the week and a half since then, the mutation could have spread even further.

As in several Western European countries, the omicron variant can progress at previously unimaginable speeds in our country too, Miklós Nyíri, CEO of Neumann Labs, told 444. Neumann Labs is the private laboratory that officially found the first case of omicron in a domestic sample, which was later confirmed by the National Center for Public Health (NNH). On December 13, a test from a married couple revealed that they were both infected with omicron. They had not been abroad, so they had already caught it from someone at home, as we have also reported.

Omicron Variant Detected in Hungary
Omicron Variant Detected in Hungary

The omicron variant of the coronavirus was detected in two samples.Continue reading

In the week and a half since then, the mutation has spread even further. Nyíri says they are retesting the positive samples to see if it was caused by the omicron variant. Out of 93 samples, 20 were definitely omicron, and there were a few that were borderline, but almost certainly were. One of the omicron-infected people was also infected with influenza.

This means that at least in their laboratory, omicron is now the cause of at least 1 in 4 new detected infections.

Hungary's Number of Confirmed Omicron Cases Rises to 15
Hungary's Number of Confirmed Omicron Cases Rises to 15

The National Public Health Centre is testing more samples suspected of containing the variant.Continue reading

Yesterday, on December 22, it was announced on the government’s coronavirus site that 15 cases of omicron have been identified so far at the National Center for Public Health laboratory, and that additional suspected omicron samples are being tested. This is less than what was detected by Neumann Labs alone.

According to the government site, “the omicron variant is already highly prevalent in several European countries and is more contagious than previous variants, but information on the severity of the infection is mixed because there is not yet enough clinical experience.” They also emphasize the importance of vaccination.

Tests to be Started on Vaccines' Effectiveness Against Omicron
Tests to be Started on Vaccines' Effectiveness Against Omicron

The omicron variant of the coronavirus has been isolated at the National Public Health Center's laboratory.Continue reading

Source: 444

Featured image via Tibor Illyés/MTI


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