The first case of the Omicron Covid-19 variant has been identified in America, the control center and prevention of US disease (CDC) is confirmed today. Caturavirus infection in California was diagnosed as an Omicron variant (B.1.1.529) using the order of genomes at the University of California, San Francisco.

Specific case details are still in short supplies. Individuals, which are not named by the CDC, “was a traveler who returned from South Africa on November 22, 2021” according to the agency.

Despite horror stories about the potential of omicrons for greater disturbances than Delta Covid-19 variants, the first case identified seems relatively contained. “Individuals, who are fully vaccinated and have mild symptoms that improve, are self quarantine and since positive testing,” added CDC. “All close contacts have been contacted and have been tested negatively.”

What is Covid-19 Omicron?

Like Delta before that, Omicron was just the latest in a series of Covid-19 variants, as viruses mutated and changed. It was first classified as a variant of worries by the World Health Organization (WHO) on November 26, 2021. The US then classified it as a variant that was a concern on November 30.

While named after, and recognizable to the diagnostic lab, there is still a lot about Omicron which is still a mystery for scientists and parliamentarians. The variant was first identified by a laboratory in South Africa, although it was not clear whether it came from the country. South African’s old expertise in viral sequencing – honed during an extended HIV epidemic in the country – has left it usually one of the first shows a new Coronavirus strain.

However, it is not known how virulent – or how much it is possible to spread – omicron, compared to other variants. Similarly, it is not clear whether the symptoms and other ways that might occur in Covid-19 will be the same as the previous outbreak. That information will only come because more cases are identified and learned.

Is omicron more deadly than other Covid-19 variants?

The two biggest questions around Covid-19 Omicron were undoubtedly experiencing severity and prevention. For the former, despite speculation, it is still uncertain. It is not known at this point whether omicron cases are more likely to produce serious illness or death than Delta or other variants.

As for prevention, vaccination – along with masking and social distance – remains a safest route to avoid infection. Again, it is uncertain how effective the Covid-19 vaccine is currently against Omicron, but an attempt to know that it has already taken place. Pfizer-Biontech has said that, if the vaccine is currently found insufficient, he expects an updated version can take up to 100 days to be developed.