Omicron sub-variant discussed by infectious disease expert
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The Omicron variant now accounts for an estimated half of all the world’s coronavirus infections. However, a new sub-variant of Omicron — BA.2 — is now believed to be spreading like wildfire, already outgunning its predecessor in some countries.
Currently, there is no evidence that shows BA.2 is more dangerous or leads to more severe disease than the original Omicron variant, BA.1.
But its level of transmissibility has left scientists racing to learn more about it, with the UK dubbing it a “variant under investigation”.
A study of 8,500 households and 18,000 individuals conducted by Denmark’s Statens Serum Institut (SSI) found that BA.2 was “substantially” more transmissible than BA.1.
The study also showed evidence to suggest that the BA.2 sub-variant is better able to evade vaccines.
However, vaccinated people are still less likely to get infected than unvaccinated individuals, and they are also less likely to pass it on.
A separate UK study also found higher transmissibility for BA.2 compared to BA.1.
But the preliminary assessment found no evidence that vaccines would be any less effective against symptomatic disease for either sub-variant.
Dr Boris Pavlin from the World Health Organisation (WHO) said: “Looking at other countries where BA.2 is now overtaking, we’re not seeing any higher bumps in hospitalisation than expected.”
The subvariant is already circulating in at least 69 countries, including the United Kingdom, according to the WHO.
Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO technical lead for COVID-19, said last week: “BA.2 is more transmissible than BA.1, so we expect to see BA.2 increasing in detection around the world.”
According to molecular biologist Bijaya Dhakal, BA.2 has already completely engulfed other strains in South Africa, believed to be the epicentre of the Omicron outbreak.
The subvariant is driving a spike in cases in other places too, including Asia and Europe.
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In England, more than 1,000 confirmed cases of BA.2 have been identified, according to the UK Health Security Agency.
It has been designated a “variant under investigation” by British health authorities, meaning they are keeping a close watch on it, but are not overly concerned by it.
According to Denmark’s SSI, BA.2 infections rose to account for about half of the country’s reported Covid cases in January.
India is another country where BA.2 is rapidly replacing the Delta and Omicron BA.1 variant, according to Dr Dhakal.
The Philippines’ Department of Health said the BA.2 sub-lineage was already prevalent in samples it received at the end of January.
BA.2 infections in Germany are also growing faster than BA.1 and Delta, according to Dr Meera Chand, Covid-19 director at the UKHSA.
Dr Chand said: “So far, there is insufficient evidence to determine whether BA.2 causes more severe illness than Omicron BA.1.
“We must remain vigilant and take up vaccinations. We should all continue to test regularly with LFDs [lateral flow devices] and take a PCR [polymerase chain reaction] test if symptoms develop.”
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