Omicron sublineages can evade antibodies from earlier infections

A South African laboratory study has found that new omicron sublineages have an ability to evade antibodies.

This month, the omicron variant of the BA.4 and BA.5 sublineages was discovered in South Africa.

Blood samples from people who had been exposed to the original omicron variant saw an almost eightfold drop in neutralizing antibody production when tested against the BA.4 and BA.5 sublineages, according to a study led by the Africa Health Research Institute in South Africa.

The study shows that samples from people who were vaccine free showed a threefold decrease.

The researchers said in the study that the low absolute neutralization levels for BA.4 and BA.5 are unlikely to protect well against the symptoms of the disease.

South Africa was the first country to experience a wave of cases caused by omicron after the variant was first identified in the country.

South Africa recorded 6,528 new cases and a test positivity rate of 22% on Saturday. The positivity rate was 4.5% on March 28.