Subvariant ‘Omicron stealth’ BA.2 is believed to be more contagious, even beating the variant Omicron BA.1 which is now spreading and triggering a spike in COVID-19 cases in many countries. In addition, the World Health Organization (WHO) brings some good news regarding the risk of BA.2 reinfection in people who have been exposed to BA.1.
On 22 February 2022, referring to data regarding transmission, severity, reinfection, diagnostics, and impact of the COVID-19 vaccine, WHO emphasized that BA.2 should still be considered a variant of concern and classified as Omicron.
In countries that have shown a decline in COVID-19 cases, WHO continues to monitor to be able to make adjustments if cases of reinfection or reinfection of BA.2 increase in people who have been exposed to BA.1.
Research says, BA.2 does have a greater growth advantage than BA.1. Until now, studies are ongoing to see the cause of the superior growth of BA.2. However, preliminary data suggest that BA.2 is inherently more infectious than BA.1.
According to the epidemiologist and WHO technical lead for COVID-19, Maria Van Kerkhove, no country has shown a return to an increase in the number of new cases after COVID-19 cases subsided in the third wave due to Omicron. Kerkhove is optimistic, that is a ‘good sign’. Moreover, according to him, there is no difference in the risk of reinfection in BA.1 and BA.2
“If there is an increase it means re-infection is likely and since we don’t see that, that’s a good sign,” Kerkhove told a news conference, quoted by the Mint, Monday (28/2/2022).
As research is still ongoing, preliminary study data suggest that BA.1 infection may provide strong protection against the risk of reinfection due to BA.2. At least, for a limited period of time.
“WHO will continue to closely monitor the BA.2 lineage as part of the Omicron lineage and calls on countries to continue to be vigilant, to monitor and report sequences, and to conduct independent and comparative analyzes of the different Omicron sublineages,” the WHO said in a statement. .
Watch Videos “What WHO Continues to Observe Regarding the Omicron BA.2 Sub Subvariant“
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