Omikron BA.5 causes more reinfection. After what time is the highest risk of infection?

The rapidly spreading sub-variant of the coronavirus Omikron BA.5 has contributed to the recent increase in the number of infections. Some people get COVID-19 for a second or third time. However, new analyzes suggest that reinfections (reinfections) are not more frequent than before.

1. The Omicron BA.5 causes almost twice as many reinfections as the sub-variant BA.2
2. Reinfections with BA.5 do not occur more frequently than with previous coronavirus mutations
3. The more time has passed since the previous COVID-19 incidence, the higher the risk of reinfection becomes
4. More information can be found on the Onet homepage

BA.5 eclipsed other Omicron sub-variants

Omikron BA.5 is an extremely contagious form of the coronavirus that is currently responsible for most new infections. According to CNN, the CDC data shows that BA.5 is a source of 80 percent. new COVID-19 cases in the United States. A significant increase in the number of cases has also been recorded in Europe, including Poland, in recent weeks.

Are the multiple reinfections caused by BA.5 a cause for concern?

DNA sequencing company Helix monitors COVID-19 variants. As reported by CNN, the company has conducted a new analysis focused on the risk of reinfection with the coronavirus. It compared how many times the same person tested positive for COVID-19 and whether reinfection (reinfection) is happening more frequently than in previous pandemic waves.

Nearly 300 thousand. infections diagnosed since March 2021. In March 2022, when the Omicron BA.2 wave lasted, 3,6 percent were found. reinfection. This result almost doubled in July 2022, when the BA.5 sub-option became more common – reinfections then accounted for 6,4%. confirmed infections. Despite the observed jump in the number of reinfections, they do not occur at smaller intervals than before.

During the April BA.2 wave, the same person had a mean time between consecutive coronavirus infections of 230 days. Until July, the interval between infections was already 270 days, which is nearly nine months.

According to Shishi Luo, vice president of bioinformatics and infectious disease at Helix, the increased number of reinfections is due to several factors. These include the body’s weakening resistance to the coronavirus over time, the significant spread of BA.5, as well as mutations within this sub-variant that make it easier for it to escape our immune system.

Who is susceptible to reinfection with Omikron BA.5?

Based on the analysis, it can be concluded that the most common reinfection affects people who suffered from COVID-19 about nine months ago. This does not mean that there are no more frequent reinfections. Some patients get COVID-19 twice, just a few weeks apart, but this is not the norm. Statistically, we are more exposed to re-infection, the more time has passed since the previous infection.

Helix’s analysis coincides with recent research by scientists in Qatar. The necessary data was collected thanks to the regular testing of 2,8 million of Qatar’s citizens for COVID-19 – tests are carried out there on up to 5%. inhabitants of the country every week. It found that reinfection is more likely in people who contracted the coronavirus before the appearance of Omicron. In their case, protection against infection was only about 15%. The chances of avoiding infection looked much better in people who had previously contracted one of the older variants of Omikron – in their case, the protection against reinfection was close to 76%.

However, it is worth taking into account the fact that the population of Qatar is specific and the results of the study there may not be universal in every case. Qatar is mainly inhabited by men who come to the country for work. Few of the inhabitants are also over 50 years old.