The Omicron variant arrived in Italy, just a few hours after the closure of flights from eight southern African countries, where the mutation was first identified.
Today a first case in Italy was sequenced at the Sacco Laboratory in Milan: it concerns a Campania citizen who landed in Lombardy and came from Mozambique.
As part of the sequencing activities by the network coordinated by the Higher Institute of Health, a sequence was identified that can be traced back to that now known as the Omicron variant.
The sample, explains the ISS, "is in the process of further confirmation in order to have the definitive assignment of the lineage".
The man's family members also tested positive for Covid, all are in good health. Patients and their contacts are in isolation.
The man returned to Italy a few days ago on a plane that left Mozambique and landed in Milan. On landing he was swab, positive. The alarm triggered in recent days about the mutation has turned the spotlight on the case and triggered more in-depth feedback on him and his family.
The patient was vaccinated with two doses, has very mild symptoms and his condition is currently not a cause for concern. Among his contacts in Lombardy, no cases of positivity were detected.
(Unioneonline / L)
