Omicron: What do we know about the ‘stealth variant’?

A new version of the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, known as BA.2, has emerged. Although experts are unsure about its effects, they know that it is spreading quickly and has 20 mutations in the area that most COVID-19 vaccines target.

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Scientists first identifiedthe BA.2 subvariant of Omicron in India and South Africa in late December 2021. Since then, it has spread to several countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Isreal.

The subvariant virus has also spread rapidly in denmark, increasing from 20% of all COVID-19 cases in the country in week 52 of 2021 to 45% in the second week of 2022.

Despite its rapid spread in the country, initial analyses show no difference in hospitalizations between the BA.2 subvariant and the original form of Omicron, also known as BA.1.

Studies, however, are still ongoing to understand the infectiousness of BA.2, alongside how effective vaccines are against it.

While BA.2 is not currently a “variant of concern,” public health officials in the U.K. have taken enough interest in its spread to designate it as a “variant under investigation.”

To understand more about the emerging subvariant, with six experts in public health, immunology, and infectious diseases.