The Omicron variant was in Europe earlier than previously thought, and it's not clear if the person had been to southern Africa, officials say

• Dutch officials said the Omicron variant was found in samples taken from people on Nov. 19 and 23.
• Previously, Europe's first-known Omicron case was someone who tested positive on Nov. 22.

The Omicron variant was detected in Europe days earlier than was previously realized, according to new data from health officials in the Netherlands.

The Dutch National Institute for Public Health said on Tuesday that the variant was found in samples that it took on November 19 and November 23, and that it was not clear if those people had been to southern Africa.

Previously, the discovered first case of the variant in Europe was found in a person in Belgium who tested positive for the virus on November 22. It was confirmed to be the Omicron variant last Friday.

The earliest-known cases of the variant in the Netherlands were previously found in people who had been on two flights from South Africa on Friday.

But the institute said on Tuesday: "We have found the Omicron coronavirus variant in two test samples that were taken on Nov. 19 and Nov. 23. It is not clear yet whether these people have visited Southern Africa."

The Omicron variant was first detected in southern Africa, and has since been recorded in small numbers in Europe, Asia, and North America.

Experts are concerned over the high number of mutations the variant has, as this could mean the variant is more transmissible, more deadly, and better at evading our current antibodies, vaccines and treatments.

But scientists are still working on figuring out what its mutations mean, and how much more dangerous the variant actually may be.

The Dutch National Institute for Public Health said: "How infectious and virulent is the variant? And how well do the existing vaccines work against this variant? All over the world, experts are in daily contact to answer these questions."