The new subversion BA.2 of the omikron variant of the coronavirus accounted for 1.1 percent of all corona cases in Belgium on Tuesday. This is reported by virologist Piet Maes (KU Leuven). The version has some identical mutations to the omikron variant we know so far, but also has some distinctive differences. Therefore, it is considered a subversion and not a completely new variant.
Read all about the coronavirus in our file
BA.2 was first discovered in Belgium on December 26, soon after the discovery of the BA.1-omikron variant. So far, only a few cases have been registered, but recently BA.2 has been increasing. BA.2 is also on the rise in other countries, including India, for example. A third subversion of the variant has also been discovered, BA.3.
Whether the BA.2 subversion is more or less pathogenic is still too difficult to estimate. Further research is needed for that. “We can’t even say at the moment whether it is in the same line as the BA.1 variant of omikron,” says virologist Maes. “It is not yet known whether the vaccines work equally well against it. That also needs to be further investigated.”
According to the virologist, it is “nothing surprising” that the viruses continue to mutate. “That’s just what viruses do.” Meanwhile, the total number of omi crashes has climbed to about 90 percent of all cases. The delta variant still accounts for 10 percent of the infections.
Also read: Thousands of reports of menstrual disorders after corona vaccine: “I haven’t had any rules for five months” (+)
Free unlimited access to Showbytes? Which can!
Log in or create an account and never miss a thing from the stars.