A stealthy offshoot of the omicron variant of COVID-19 has been detected in more than 20 states across the country.
Not much is known about BA.2, which differs from the BA.1 version of omicron, but there have been almost 100 cases of the subvariant accounted for in the United States, according to a Newsweek report on virus database GISAID.
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“The BA.2 descendant lineage, which differs from BA.1 in some of the mutations, including in the spike protein, is increasing in many countries,” the World Health Organization said in its description of the subvariant. “Investigations into the characteristics of BA.2, including immune escape properties and virulence, should be prioritized independently (and comparatively) to BA.1.”
Health officials in the states of California, Texas, and Washington have all recently confirmed cases of the subvariant in their respective states. BA.2, which has been dubbed the “stealth omicron variant,” was first reported last November when scientists analyzed omicron samples from Australia, Canada, and South Africa, ABC News reported. The subvariant has been detected in over 40 different countries, and the WHO has suggested that there is no current evidence of BA.2 being worse than BA.1 in terms of severity or transmissibility.
Scientists say data show the omicron variant, which was first detected in South Africa in November, is more transmissible but less severe than prior variants of COVID-19.
Researchers at Denmark’s Statens Serum Institut reported last Thursday that the subvariant has quickly gained ground in the country, accounting for at least 45% of omicron cases, while the relative frequency of BA.1 has dropped. The researchers noted in a press release that the difference between BA.1 and BA.2 is greater than the difference between the original strain of COVID-19 and the alpha variant.
“Such differences can lead to different properties for instance concerning infectiousness, vaccine efficiency, or severity,” the press release said. “So far, there is no information as to whether BA.1 and BA.2 have different properties, but Statens Serum Institut (SSI) is continually working to investigate this matter.”
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The Danish researchers also noted that their initial analysis of BA.2 infections found no difference in hospitalizations between BA.2 and the initial omicron variant. They said they are still studying its severity, transmissibility, and impact on vaccinated individuals.
News of the spread of BA.2 in the U.S. comes as cases appear to have peaked. Last Friday, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said during a White House COVID-19 briefing that new daily COVID-19 cases are trending downward. However, she cautioned that cases still remain high.
