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

Neda Jalali, Hilde K. Brustad, Arnoldo Frigessi, Emily A. MacDonald, Hinta Meijerink, Siri L. Feruglio, Karin M. Nygård, Gunnar Rø, Elisabeth H. Madslien and Birgitte Freiesleben de Blasio ()
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Neda Jalali: Norwegian Institute of Public Health
Hilde K. Brustad: University of Oslo
Arnoldo Frigessi: University of Oslo
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

Nature Communications, 2022, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-5

Abstract: 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.

Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-33233-9

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