Babbage: Omicron and on

<p>Countries are scrambling to stop the <a href="https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2021/11/28/what-to-do-about-covid-19s-threatening-new-variant?utm_campaign=a.io&amp;utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&amp;utm_source=babbage&amp;utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&amp;utm_term=sa.listeners" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Omicron variant of the coronavirus</a>. We search for <a href="https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2021/11/29/why-might-new-variants-like-omicron-spread-more-easily?utm_campaign=a.io&amp;utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&amp;utm_source=babbage&amp;utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&amp;utm_term=sa.listeners" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">scientific clues</a> to understand how it will shape the pandemic. Professor Sharon Peacock, one of the world’s top variant hunters, predicts Omicron will be more transmissible than previous strains. And, will Omicron <a href="https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2021/11/29/omicron-is-starting-to-spread-around-the-world?utm_campaign=a.io&amp;utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&amp;utm_source=babbage&amp;utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&amp;utm_term=sa.listeners" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">supplant the Delta variant globally</a>? Correspondent Hal Hodson looks to immunology for answers.</p><p><br></p><p>Alok Jha hosts, with The Economist’s health policy editor, Natasha Loder and deputy editor, Edward Carr.</p><p><br></p><p>We would love to hear from you—please take a moment to complete our listener survey at <a href="http://economist.com/babbagesurvey" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">economist.com/babbagesurvey</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p>To keep up-to-date with our coverage of the Omicron variant, go to <a href="http://economist.com/omicron?utm_campaign=a.io&amp;utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&amp;utm_source=babbage&amp;utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&amp;utm_term=sa.listen