As the Omicron BA.2 sub-variant expands, experts are wondering if it will be more portable and heavier than previous Covid-19 variants.
The epidemiologist based in the United States of America has gained the attention of the World Health Organization (WHO) over the severity of the BA.2 subvariant variant Omicron Covid-19. This happened after a recent study found that this sub-strain not only spreads rapidly, but can also lead to worse disease.
Japanese study of Covid-19 subvariants of OmicronBA.2
According to reports, this laboratory study and findings from Japan have yet to be tested by colleagues. The study was conducted by a team led by experts from the University of Tokyo. The findings are published in the BioRxiv prepress repository. "The sub.2 BA.2 variant may have properties that allow it to cause serious diseases, such as older coronavirus variants," the authorities report.
Eric Feigl-Ding, an epidemiologist and health economist, called it "fear" in his tweet. Check out the tweet here!
Last week, the WHO responded to the prevalence of Omicron's BA.2 sub-variant by saying that even if it were more portable than BA.1, the latest sub-variant would not be as severe.
Of all the subvariants, BA.2 is more portable than BA.1. However, there is no difference in severity, "said Maria Van Kerkhova, WHO's chief technical officer for Covid-19, in the video. Covid-19 remains scattered around the world
Covid-19 hit the world two years ago and keeps people in a tent. After the Delta Wave claimed many lives and affected people around the world, the presence of the Omicron variant from Botswana and South Africa was reported in November 2021. Since then, variants BA.1 and BA.2 have been created.
According to the authors of the study, variant BA.2 Omicron is beginning to "overcome" BA.1. This led them to believe that the former was more viable than the original Omicron.
The study also showed that only one of the BA.1 lines, the BA.2 Omicron subvarian, appears to largely escape the resistance caused by Covid-19 vaccines. Despite this, we have seen several countries cancel their bonds and the Covid-19 measure.
Executive Director of the WHO Emergency Medical Program, Dr. Mike Ryan, also recently expressed feelings of nervousness.
"If we touch on another variant ... it's very difficult to undo something," he said.
While some countries now have high vaccinations, the rest of the country still has to reckon with the curves.