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COVID-19 is not as much talked about as it used to be, but there is no doubt: the pandemic continues and continues to develop. What’s more, experts indicate another possible danger related to the coronavirus. These are BA.4 and BA.5, Omicron sub-variants detected during winter. They spread faster and attack people who are vaccinated more easily. This could mean another wave of infections, possibly already in the summer. “I am very concerned” – admits prof. Gregory Poland, a vaccinologist from Mayo Clinic.
- In Europe, the threat of Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 sub-variants is increasing. In the US, they are responsible for over 21 percent. new cases
- Specialists are concerned about another wave of the pandemic, although it is not certain whether it will happen
- The BA.4 and BA.5 mutations are more contagious, but it is still unclear if they make the disease more severe. The observations so far do not seem to confirm this
- BA.4 and BA.5 may be more able to escape immunity from vaccination or from being infected with COVID-19
- The Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 sub-variants were first detected in February 2022 in South Africa. In May, SARS-CoV-2 infections dominated the country
- More current information can be found on the Onet homepage.
«La Stampa»: a new wave of infections possible in the summer
Most of us would probably prefer to forget about the COVID-19 pandemic and the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. Unfortunately, the virus is still among us and continues to improve. This is evidenced by two more sub-variants of the Omikron mutation: BA.4 and BA.5. ECDC does not rule out variants becoming dominant. This raises further concerns. “They are spreading faster in Europe than other variants of the coronavirus, which could lead to more hospitalizations and deaths,” Reuters reported on June 13.
The Italian daily La Stampa even warns against a new wave of coronavirus infections, which may already occur in this country in the summer. Dziennik cites pandemic data analyst Prof. Roberto Battistona from the University of Trento: «We are not able to go below the 600 mark. active infections ». In his opinion, this could indicate that a new wave of infections will come this summer. «Besides, the number of 600 thousand it may be lower than the real one, because it is likely that more and more people can cope with the disease on their own and are beyond the statistics ”- noted Battiston (after PAP). La Stampa stresses, however, that for the time being the situation is under control.
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The BA.4 and BA.5 sub-options are also starting to take over the US. According to CDC estimates from June 11, they are responsible for over 21 percent. new COVID-19 cases in this country (BA.4 and 8,3% of cases, BA.5 for 13,3%).
New Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 sub-variants. «I am very concerned»
Reuters recalls that in March, mutations BA.4 and BA.5 were added to the World Health Organization’s monitoring list, and that ECDC identifies them as variants of concern. Scientists note that these newer versions of the Omicron can “bypass” the body’s own antibody response after vaccination or infection. Moreover, they spread faster than other variants, and this can lead to more hospitalizations and deaths. “I am very concerned,” admits Dr. Gregory Poland, head of the vaccine research group at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester (USA).
Scientists are studying the immune response to the BA.4 and BA.5 sub-variants. Paul Bieniasz, a professor at Rockefeller University who studies virus development, already suspects that his observations so far indicate the direction of further evolution of the pathogen. In his opinion, there will be “more and more mutations in future variants that will enable them to avoid the antibodies we produce in response to vaccination and infection”.
BA.4 and BA.5 more contagious, but there is also some optimistic news
At the moment, scientists have limited data on the severity of infections caused by the two new Omicron sub-variants. However, when looking at reports from South Africa (they were first identified there, in January and February 2022, respectively), scientists are optimistic. There were fewer hospitalizations and deaths in South Africa during BA.4 and BA.5 waves than during the attack of the BA.1 mutation (the first Omicron sub-variant).
This is confirmed by observations in Italy. According to “La Stampa”, the symptoms of infection with the BA.5 subvariant most often resemble a common cold and last for about four days. A stuffy nose and an elevated temperature are the main signs of a possible coronavirus infection. Loss of smell and taste is less common, which was a typical symptom of infection with earlier variants of SARS-CoV-2.
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Virologist Fabrizio Pregliasco of the University of Milan notes that ‘The new variant is characterized by mutations that make the virus less dangerous to the lungs’. “But that does not mean that it cannot cause more severe forms of the disease, though it seems less likely” – the specialist reserves.
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