As COVID-19 cases continue to rise due to community transmission of the Omicron variant in India, the newly discovered sub-variant, called ba.2, has emerged as a major virus strain in European and Asian countries, Due to which doubts are being created about the future. Epidemic waves.
The UK Health Protection Agency (UKHSA) has identified 426 cases in the UK in the first ten days of this month and has indicated that the latest version has been detected in some 40 other countries, which is the most recent case in some countries, including India. is responsible for the majority of Denmark and Sweden.
BA.2 found in 80% of Kolkata samples
The report comes after the Omicron variant’s sub-lineage was found 80 percent samples in Kolkata. Samples were sent for genome sequencing between 22 and 28 December and about 80 percent of them were found to be BA.2 positive, with a Ct level below 30, indicating a high viral load.
Earlier in December, the government had decided to send all positive samples with a Ct value of less than 30 for genome sequencing to trace community transmission of omicrons. However, the decision was reversed a week later when it became clear that Omicron had begun community transmission.
On Sunday, INSACOG officially confirmed that the Omicron version is in the community transmission stage in India and has become effective in several metros where new cases are increasing rapidly.
Although the government has warned that screening of the BA.2 lineage is likely to yield false negatives, no such case has been confirmed in India to date. “Omicron is now in community transmission in India and has become dominant in many metros, where new cases are increasing rapidly. BA.2 lineage is in a large part in India and S gene dropout based screening is thus likely to give high false negatives,” it said.
The S-gene drop-out is a genetic variation similar to the omicron. “The recently reported B.1.640.2 lineage is being monitored. There is no evidence of rapid spread and while it has characteristics of immune escape, it is not currently a type of concern. So far No case has been detected in India,” INSACOG said in its recent bulletin.
Omicron’s ‘Stealth Edition’
The BA.2 strain, commonly known as the ‘stealth version’, can only be detected through genome sequencing and constitutes one of the sub-lineages of oomicron variants that are now divided into three sub-types. is divided, namely BA.1, BA.2, and BA.3.
While BA.2 has not yet been designated a variant of concern, French epidemiologist Antoine Flahault told AFP countries will have to be vigilant for the latest development as scientists ramp up surveillance. He said, “(France) expected a spike in contamination in mid-January: this did not happen and it is probably due to this sub-version, which appears to be much more permeable but not more toxic than Ba.1 Is”.
France’s public health agency said on Friday, “What interests us if it (the sub-variant) possesses different characteristics” from BA.1 in terms of infectivity and severity.
effectiveness of vaccines
However, virologist Tom Peacock at Imperial College London said, “Very early observations from India and Denmark suggest that there is no dramatic difference in severity compared to BA.1,” and noted that the effectiveness of the newly discovered strain is questioned. Not likely to pick up. Existing Comments.
They observed that vaccines against BA.1 and BA.2 are likely to have minimal differences in effectiveness and are unlikely to lead to a second wave of omicrons. “Many countries are near, or even further from the peak of BA.1 waves. I would be very surprised if BA.2 causes a second wave at this point. Even with slightly higher transmittance, it is absolutely delta -Omicron change is not and is instead likely to be slower and more subtle,” he forecast.
Meanwhile, a recent study by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed that once Omicron is effective, vaccine efficacy is estimated to have serious consequences i.e. 81 percent of hospitalizations between 14-179 days after two doses, After more than 180 days, it was 57 percent. Dosage two and 90 percent after dose three or 14 or more days of booster jab.
(with inputs from agencies)
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