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Increased household transmission and immune escape of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron compared to Delta variants

Author

Listed:
  • Neda Jalali

    (Norwegian Institute of Public Health)

  • Hilde K. Brustad

    (University of Oslo)

  • Arnoldo Frigessi

    (University of Oslo
    Oslo University Hospital)

  • Emily A. MacDonald

    (Norwegian Institute of Public Health)

  • Hinta Meijerink

    (Norwegian Institute of Public Health)

  • Siri L. Feruglio

    (Norwegian Institute of Public Health)

  • Karin M. Nygård

    (Norwegian Institute of Public Health)

  • Gunnar Rø

    (Norwegian Institute of Public Health)

  • Elisabeth H. Madslien

    (Norwegian Institute of Public Health)

  • Birgitte Freiesleben de Blasio

    (Norwegian Institute of Public Health
    University of Oslo)

Abstract

Understanding the epidemic growth of the novel SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant is critical for public health. We compared the ten-day secondary attack rate (SAR) of the Omicron and Delta variants in households using Norwegian contact tracing data, December 2021 - January 2022. Omicron SAR was higher than Delta, with a relative risk (RR) of 1.41 (95% CI 1.27-1.56). We observed increased susceptibility to Omicron infection in household contacts compared to Delta, independent of contacts’ vaccination status. Among three-dose vaccinated contacts, the mean SAR was lower for both variants. We found increased Omicron transmissibility from primary cases to contacts in all vaccination groups, except 1-dose vaccinated, compared to Delta. Omicron SAR of three-dose vaccinated primary cases was high, 46% vs 11 % for Delta. In conclusion, three-dose vaccinated primary cases with Omicron infection can efficiently spread in households, while three-dose vaccinated contacts have a lower risk of being infected by Delta and Omicron.

Suggested Citation

  • Neda Jalali & Hilde K. Brustad & Arnoldo Frigessi & Emily A. MacDonald & Hinta Meijerink & Siri L. Feruglio & Karin M. Nygård & Gunnar Rø & Elisabeth H. Madslien & Birgitte Freiesleben de Blasio, 2022. "Increased household transmission and immune escape of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron compared to Delta variants," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-5, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:13:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-022-33233-9
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-33233-9
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    Cited by:

    1. Junya Sunagawa & Hyeongki Park & Kwang Su Kim & Ryo Komorizono & Sooyoun Choi & Lucia Ramirez Torres & Joohyeon Woo & Yong Dam Jeong & William S. Hart & Robin N. Thompson & Kazuyuki Aihara & Shingo Iw, 2023. "Isolation may select for earlier and higher peak viral load but shorter duration in SARS-CoV-2 evolution," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-13, December.
    2. Denis Mongin & Nils Bürgisser & Gustavo Laurie & Guillaume Schimmel & Diem-Lan Vu & Stephane Cullati & Delphine Sophie Courvoisier, 2023. "Effect of SARS-CoV-2 prior infection and mRNA vaccination on contagiousness and susceptibility to infection," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-13, December.

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