A stealthy version of the omicron variant has been detected in the U.S., but so far it makes up a very low proportion of the overall cases in the country.
According to the World Health Organization, some of the genetic changes found in the variant, called BA.2, are not seen in the original omicron line. It is too early to interpret the data that suggests that BA.2 may be less transmissible than the original.
Scientists reported in December that the original version of omicron had split into multiple sublineages. BA.2 has a genetic quirk that makes it harder to track using a PCR test, so it has been dubbed "stealth omicron".
There have been 20 of the worst epidemics in history.
The original omicron has a deletion in the gene that codes for its spikeProtein, which the virus uses to attack cells. This error makes it easy to flag likely omicron cases because the test displays an error that reads "S gene target failure" when a variant carries this deletion.
The BA.2 sublineage does not have the deletion 69-70del, so it does not stand out from the others. A person with BA.2 will still test positive for the coronaviruses on a test, but their case won't be flagged as BA.2 unless their sample goes through genetic testing.
Don't get the impression that "stealth omicron" means we can't detect it, says Dr. S.Wesley Long, a Pathologist at Houston Methodist in Texas.
According to the AP, stealth omicron has been detected in 40 countries. In general, BA.2 is more common in Asia and Europe.
The U.K. Health Security Agency has designated BA.2 as a variant under investigation in light of the country's rising number of BA.2 cases. In January, the variant was responsible for 45% of COVID-19 cases, up from 20% at the beginning of the month. According to The Washington Post, as of Monday, BA.2 accounted for 65% of the new coronaviruses cases in the country. There are still coronaviruses cases in the country.
James Musser, director of the Center for Molecular and Translational Human Infectious Diseases Research at Houston Methodist, told The Washington Post that the proportion of coronaviruses in the U.S. is not as high as in the U.K. The sublineage hasn't gained much ground in the US as of now, but Houston Methodist recently identified three BA.2 cases. According to news reports, the Mutant has been seen in Connecticut and California.
The U.S. has submitted 96 BA.2 genetic sequence to the global platform for sharing coronaviruses data, the AP reported. About 15,000 sequences have been submitted.
The WHO recommends that health agencies study how the sublineage compares with the original omicron, particularly in terms of its ability to spread and cause severe disease, as BA.2 cases are increasing worldwide.
Investigations into the characteristics of BA. Immune escape properties and virulence should be prioritized separately. The original version of omicron is on the WHO website.
There is not enough data to determine whether the BA.2 lineage is more transmissible or has a fitness advantage over the BA.1 lineage, according to The Washington Post.
The risk of hospitalization for BA.2 does not differ from that of the primary omicron lineage, according to early reports. Despite the high rate of infections. The number of hospitalizations in the intensive care unit are decreasing.
Long told the AP that there are some hints that the sublineage is more transmissible than the original. Scientists are testing whether the original omicron also targets and neutralizes BA.2, the AP reported.
The two versions of omicron are the same, so there is a good chance that you will get BA.2 if you get infections with omicron.
The Washington Post has more about stealth omicron.
It was originally published on Live Science.
All Rights Reserved © 2024
