The new strain called ‘Silent Ómicron’ (or BA.2) appears to be more infectious than the current dominant strain and has already become the dominant variant in Denmark , for example, where the Statens Serum Institut (SSI) has stated that estimates Preliminary data suggest that BA.2 could be 1.5 times more infectious than its predecessor BA. 1 (Original Omicron).
Currently, Omicron, the most transmissible variant of the Sars-CoV-2 virus, whose most common form is known as BA.1, accounts for almost all coronavirus infections worldwide. But, in recent days, scientists are tracking a rise in cases caused by Omicron’s close cousin, BA.2, which is beginning to overtake BA.1 in parts of Europe and Asia.
But what do we know about this subvariant?
Both BA.1 and BA.2 are closely related genetically, but each has mutations that could alter their behavior . The Ómicron subvariant is even more contagious, something that could slow down the decline in the number of COVID-19 cases in this fall of the sixth wave that we are in right now.
But despite being more contagious, the silent variant appears to be less dangerous and serious, according to data from the Statens Serum Institut (SSI), Denmark’s leading infectious disease authority.
In the United States, the variant circulates in more than half of US states , with at least 127 known cases nationwide, the Centers for Disease Control and Protection (CDC) revealed.
Last week, BA.2 was designated as a variant under investigation, so there is currently no data on the severity of the strain. The World Health Organization has already warned of the ability of this variant to generate mutations. There are some alterations with respect to BA,1, in addition to a variation in the spike protein, which allows the virus to infect and multiply further in people. Whether or not it causes more severe COVID-19 illness will be something we will have to see as more data is collected. For now, there are no differences in the risk of hospitalization of the Omicron subvariant.
In Spain, for now only one isolated case has been sequenced in the week of December 27 , according to the Ministry of Health.
As with other variants, home coronavirus test kits can detect an infection with this silent Omicron variant, although they cannot tell what type of variant it is that we have been infected with.
We take this opportunity to remember, once again, that vaccines prevent people from dying.
Getting vaccinated, including booster doses, continuing to social distance, wearing masks, and following local guidelines are guidelines we must continue to use.
