This is the first case in Abruzzo. You also infected your mother and little sister.
The Omicron 2 variant does not spare newborns. This is the case of a baby who is 1 month old and is hospitalized in the Neonatology and Neonatal Intensive Care department of the Chieti hospital because he tested positive for Covid-19.
The little boy was transferred from the “San Pio” emergency room in Vasto, where he had arrived due to a high fever. Having tested positive for the antigenic swab, he was immediately transported to Chieti to be hospitalized in the operational unit directed by Diego Gazzolo and subjected to the necessary tests and treatments. Once the infection was confirmed, typing was requested from the University Laboratory, which identified the BA2 variant, so-called Omicron 2. The child, who had neither a cough nor breathing difficulties, underwent transfusion therapy due to a anemic picture highlighted by tests.
“This is the first case in Abruzzo – underlines Gazzolo – and we are checking whether there are precedents in the country. What is certain is that there are no references in the literature, therefore this is also an opportunity to give our contribution to studies on the subject. We know, however, that the Omicron variant increasingly affects children, also due to a low vaccination rate in this age group. The Omicron 2 subvariant now has a prevalence of 44% and has been isolated in almost all regions. In Abruzzo it stands at 23.6%, it is no more severe than the original variant and vaccination with a booster dose guarantees high protection from serious symptoms and hospitalizations that lasts over time”. The child’s condition is still stable although he is still positive. From the tracing activity carried out it emerged that the mother and little sister are also infected.
