Europe upgrades Omicron’s BA.4 and BA.5 sub-series to a “disturbing variant”

At the same time, the ECDC expressed concern about a new wave of epidemics this summer.

This is the first public health agency to issue such an assessment of BA.4 and BA.5the sublines of Omicron variant were first discovered in South Africa in January and February this year, respectively. In a report, ECDC said, both of these sub-lines could lead to a new wave of epidemics across the continent, increasing pressure on the hospital system.

Last week, the Portuguese National Institute of Health estimated that the BA.5 sub-lineage accounted for about 37% of new cases. The agency said that the presence of BA.4 and BA.5 could cause a sharp increase in the number of cases in the European Union (EU)/European Economic Area (EEA) in the coming weeks and months. although the total number of cases of these sublineages is currently low.

According to the ECDC, based on currently limited data, the BA.4 and BA.5 sublines do not cause more severe disease than the existing BA.1 and BA.2 sublines. onion. However, both of these sub-lines could lead to a new wave of epidemics across Europe, with a sharp increase in the number of new cases, leading to an increase in the number of hospitalizations or intensive treatment. This will increase pressure on the hospital system.

New variants are emerging as the virus continuously mutates. (Photo: AP)

ECDC encourages countries in the region to continue to closely monitor BA.4 and BA.5. The ECDC also urged people of “all ages” to get the basic and booster shots of the COVID-19 vaccine to help protect against new variants as immunity “weakens.”

However, there are views expressing concern about the flexibility of these sub-lines. South Africa’s COVID-19 expert, Tulio de Oliveria, said they had “mutated to allow the virus to evade the immune system”. According to Mr. Oliveria, new sublines of the Omicron variant could cause re-infection and breakthrough infection through practice in South Africa, where it is estimated that more than 90% of the population has acquired some degree of immunity.

To date, approximately 700 BA.4 sublineage infections have been detected in at least 16 countries and 300 BA.5 infections have been detected in at least 17 countries.

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