Guwahati: A sub-lineage of the dominant and highly transmissible Omicron coronavirus variety was recognized as a variant under examination by the UK Health Security Agency on Friday, claiming it could have a growth advantage.
The BA.2, which lacks the particular mutation that distinguishes Omicron from Delta, is being examined but has not been identified as a variety of concerns.
“It’s in the nature of viruses to evolve and change, so we should expect to see more strains arise in the future,” said Dr. Meera Chand, incident director at the UKHSA. “We can detect them and estimate their significance thanks to our ongoing genomic surveillance.”
The BA.2 sub-lineage has been sequenced in 426 cases in the United Kingdom, and while the significance of the mutations to the viral genome is unknown, early analysis suggests a faster growth rate than the original Omicron lineage, BA.1.
According to the UKHSA, BA.2 sequences have been reported from 40 nations, with Denmark reporting the most samples, followed by India, the United Kingdom, Sweden, and Singapore.
BA.2 has exploded in popularity in Denmark. In the last week of 2021, it accounted for 20% of all Covid-19 instances, rising to 45% in the second week of 2022.
Anders Fomsgaard, a researcher at Statens Serum Institut (SSI), said he had no solid explanation for the sub-quick lineage’s expansion and that he was puzzled but not concerned.
“It’s possible that it’s more immune to the population’s immunity, allowing it to infect more people.” We don’t know yet,” he told TV 2, adding that persons infected with BA.1 could not be resistant to catching BA.2 soon after.
He further said, “It’s a possibility.” “In that scenario, we’ll have to be ready.” Then there’s a chance we’ll see two epidemic peaks.”
According to an initial review by Denmark’s SSI, there was no difference in hospitalizations between BA.2 and BA.1.