WHERE: The Omicron 2 variant has been identified in 57 countries
The Omicron sub-variant has several different mutations compared to the original version, according to the WHO. BA.2 has been identified in 57 countries to date.
A variation of the Omicron strain of the new coronavirus, which according to some studies may be even more contagious than its original version , has been identified in 57 countries, the World Health Organization announced on Tuesday.
The Omicron variant , which is spreading and mutating rapidly, has now become the dominant virus strain in the world since it was first identified in southern Africa ten weeks ago.
In its weekly epidemiological bulletin, the WHO explains that this variant, found in over 93% of all SARS-CoV-2 samples collected last month, has several variants: BA.1, BA.1.1, BA.2 and BA.3.
The first two, originally identified, contain over 96% of the Omicron genome, which has been downloaded to the global GISAID database.
However, there is a clear increase in the number of cases of BA.2, which has several different mutations compared to the original version, especially in the spike protein, which is crucial for the penetration of the virus into human cells.
Samples of BA.2 "have been submitted to GISAID from 57 countries to date," the WHO said, noting that in some countries this variation is now found in more than half of the Omicron samples collected.
WHO emphasizes that we still know very little about the differences between the variants and calls for studies to be carried out on their characteristics, especially the transmissibility, whether they can escape immunological protection (vaccines) and the severity of COVID. -19 cause.
Several recent studies have suggested that BA.2 is even more contagious than the original form of the Omicron variant.
Maria Van Kerkov, one of the WHO's most important experts on COVID, told the press yesterday that information on the sub-variant was still limited, but some initial data showed that BA.2 showed a "slight increase" in infectivity "compared to BA.1 ".
Omicron is generally thought to cause a less severe form of COVID-19 than previous variants of SARS-CoV-2, and Ms Van Kerkov said there was no indication so far that BA.2 was causing a more serious illness.
