As BA.2 gains traction, experts explain whether there is cause for concern

Key takeaways:

• A new sub-strain of the Omicron variant of coronavirus has been circulating rapidly around the world, posing the latest challenge in taming Covid-19.
• The BA.2 substrain has gained ground in recent months, according to data from various government agencies, particularly in the worst-affected European countries.
• The existing vaccines are just as effective against BA.2 as they were against the previous sub-variants, according to the most recent data from Europe.

The latest challenge in taming Covid-19 is a new sub-strain of the Omicron variant of coronavirus that has been circulating rapidly worldwide. As per the World Health Organization, the BA.2 substrain has been found in at least 57 countries (WHO). People should be cautious, according to a leading healthcare expert.

Dr. Leana Wen, a professor of health policy and management at a George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, informed CNN, "We should be cautious as well as monitor fresh data as it comes out, but we shouldn't be concerned."

In some places, she added, BA.2 has replaced the highly contagious original Omicron variant, known as BA.1.

At the same time, Dr. Wen stated that Omicron would not be the last coronavirus variant.

"Almost certainly not," she says. "Viruses mutate when they replicate," she explained, adding that "this is why real-time surveillance is so important, and vaccination is also critical."

How contagious is BA.2?

According to available data from various gov't, the BA.2 substrain has gained ground in recent months, particularly in the worst-affected European countries. In Denmark, for example, BA.2 infected people infected 39 percent of susceptible household members, compared to 29 percent for the original omicron variant. This corresponds to preliminary UK data.

However, health experts claim that Omicron is not as dangerous as Delta.

Is BA.2, on the other hand, more dangerous than previous strains?

According to WHO, this is not the case. According to evidence from Denmark, BA.2 does not seem to be more severe than the original Omicron variant, and its spread has not resulted in unexpected increases in hospitalizations.

When the Covid-19 restrictions were lifted, the Danish government announced changes that reflected this. Although cases have reached an all-time high, the Danish government has stated that the disease no elongate poses a threat to society.

Is there a vaccine for the BA.2 sub-variant?

According to the most recent data from Europe, the existing vaccines are just as effective against BA.2 as they were against the previous sub-variants. Although BA.2 is more contagious, a UK study found that vaccines prevented 13% of cases 25 weeks after the second dose.

Two weeks after receiving a booster dose, the number increased to 70%.

BA.2 vs. BA.1: What's the Difference?

According to the researchers, BA.2 has 40 mutations compared to the original sub-strain, including a key change in the spike region.

While they are related, there are enough variations to cause a behavioral shift. According to researchers, the milder form of most Omicron cases in immunized people may leave those who recover vulnerable to the existing virus and future variants.

They also stated that BA.2 would extend the Covid-19 wave led by Omicron. A slower decline in cases could lead to more hospitalizations, a problem in countries with low vaccination rates.

It will "create a substantially longer tail of circulation of Omicron," according to Trevor Bedford, a computational biologist in the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.