Wisconsin Is Already Testing For Omicron Variant

MILWAUKEE, WI — Health officials were already testing for the new omicron variant of the coronavirus in the United States and Wisconsin, a health expert said Monday. The latest variant was discovered during an increase of COVID-19 cases in South Africa.

Health experts have yet to determine how effective current COVID-19 vaccines are to protect people against the new variant, University of Wisconsin-Madison infectious diseases expert Dan Shirley told WEAU.

Scientists also have to figure out if the omicron variant is more transmissible among people or if it causes more severe disease, Shirley added.

"Sooner or later, we're going to see cases," President Joe Biden said at a news conference Monday. He said that travel restrictions on people coming from several African countries would slow introduction of the omicron variant.

South African scientists found the new version of the coronavirus while tracking a surge in COVID-19 cases, The Associated Press reported. The new variant was detected in travelers to Hong Kong and Botswana as well.

Elizabeth Goodsitt, a communications specialist for the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, said that no cases of the new omicron variant have been found in the state.

The best protection against the variant is getting fully vaccinated and receiving a booster shot, Biden said.

Lawrence Young, a virologist at the University of Warwick, described the variant as "the most heavily mutated version of the virus we have seen." It was concerning that "it looks like it's spreading rapidly," although the variant has been detected only at low levels in parts of South Africa, he said.

So far, there was no indication the variant causes more severe disease. South African experts said that, as with other variants, some infected people haven't reported any symptoms yet.

It is impossible to make any predictions about whether the virus is more dangerous or infectious based on its genetic makeup alone, Francois Balloux, director of the Genetics Institute at University College London, said.

Federal monitoring and a nationwide surveillance system for coronavirus variants suggested that the new variant will be identified quickly if it emerges in the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

COVID-19 vaccines and a booster shot remain important tools for stopping the worst outcomes and slowing the spread of the coronavirus, which is essential as many people plan to gather for the upcoming holiday season, health and human services Secretary-designee Karen Timberlake said.

See more:

• New COVID-19 Variant In South Africa: Explainer
• New Omicron Variant Stokes World Fears, Triggers Travel Bans
• How COVID-19 Shots For Kids Help Prevent Dangerous New Variants

The Associated Press contributed to this story.