The new Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 variants worry WHO!

presence of two New sub-versions of Omicron, BA.4 and BA.5worry aboutWorld Health OrganizationEnough to start monitoring them.

Two new variants of Omron, BA.4 and BA.5First identified in Africa in the months of January and February, are also spreading to Europe. this time they were Few cases were reported in Denmark, England and Scotland.

The World Health Organization is starting Monitor new variants, But at the moment there is no special serious case.

The World Health Organization is currently trying to understand which genetic advantage would allow the variants to “pierce” the antibodies created by the vaccine.

there too UK Health Protection Agency AndECDC Have started monitoring two variants and according to the British agency cases of variants have been reported BA.4 in South Africa (41 cases), in botswana (2 cases), in Denmark (3 cases), in England (1 case) and in Scotland (1 case).

While there were BA.5 variants Only 27 cases have been reported in South Africa, This time. With regard to the latter, the English agency states in the report:

,For these variants, evidence is available on genomic, epidemiological or in vitro properties that may have a significant impact on transmittance, severity and/or immunity; In reality they can have an impact on the epidemiological situation in the European Union or the European Economic Area.

However, the evidence is still preliminary or is associated with great uncertainty.,

Kovid, Omron: Because it is possible to get infected a second time with the new variant

Although there are vaccines helped our immune system To recognize the original strain of coronavirus, even the antibodies produced by the Omicron variant are not sufficient to protect us from the new subtypes BA.4 and BA.5.

Currently, the data shows that the gradient effect It can drop to 37%, New types, in short, can easily penetrate our immune shield and that is why it would be possible to re-infect us.

However, it must be recognized that the new versions have not yet spread to Europe and, as we have said, in total there is about a Seventy cases of variants BA.4 and BA.5. Very few cases in Europe.

However, there could be many more cases. r. withOpens Mandatory TamponMany have started failing to report their positives. In addition, swabs seem to be becoming ineffective at detecting the new Omron variant, so much so that 4 out of 10 swabs give a false negative.

We talked about it in one of our articles and here we wrote that

,According to a study published in Eurosurveillance in November 2021, only 79% of swabs give reliable results because subjects have a high viral load when they are tested.

But as the viral load decreases, the rapid test can no longer detect the virus, so 4 out of 10 asymptomatic positives may test negative on a rapid swab.,

Omicron’s new sub-variants “pierce” the BA.4 and BA.5 vaccines

In fact, this information should not surprise us, because Omicron BA.1 Version Due to the high degree of transmittance and much more, it was able to “perforate” the vaccine.

as we know, Current vaccines not yet up to date against variantsAlso because it would be physically impossible to update the vaccine when a new version appears.

Mutations of SARS-CoV-2 Virus They actually happen at an extraordinary pace and it’s hard to get them all. According to the researchers, in fact, It is also possible that some types were born and died without being aware of it.

Two types are, in fact, capable remove antibodies produced by our immune system Thanks to the vaccine or past infection.

The data was found for research conducted byAfrica Health Research Institute in Durban, South Africa and was later published on the forum medrxiv,

In particular, researchers have Trying to understand whether the antibodies produced by the Omicron BA.1 variant are able to protect the patient from the new BA.4 and BA.5 variants.Through the collection of serum from 39 people who have contracted COVID.

The result, as you might have guessed, was negative. Specially, A 36-fold reduction in antibody efficacy against the BA.4 variant and 37-fold against the BA.5 variant has been reported in non-vaccinated people.

But what are the characteristics of the new Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 variants? These are the new symptoms.

New Characteristics of the New Sub-Variants of Omicron BA.4 and BA.5

The newer variants are still not very present in Europe and in South Africa alone there have been around seventy total cases between BA.4 and BA.5. According to preliminary studies, Variants would appear to be more contagious Compared to Omicron, and also compared to all other known viruses.

Omicron version first appeared in late 2020 and in turn gave rise to many sub-types. The most widespread at the moment is the BA.2, which was less aggressive than the previous variant.

However, in South Africa, these new variants are beginning to spread again. More contagious, but similar in mutation.

Although, Symptoms seem to be different than in previous versionsAlthough they do not seem to be of particular concern according toNational Institute for Communicable Diseases of South Africa, In fact, it says that

,It is too early to give a definite answer. However – given that the lineage is still classified as oomicron and that most mutations (especially within the spike protein) are identical, the traits are likely to be similar.The”

according to this Virologist Fabrizio PregliascoProfessor at the University of Milan, for the time being the symptoms are mainly focused upper respiratory tractThen, in the trachea, the flu causes mild symptoms, such as runny nose, dizziness or earache.

The symptoms noted have also been reported in loss of taste and smell, high fever, cough and muscle and joint pain (The symptoms are also present in the previous variants). Basically, for vaccination, even though there is a chance of being re-infected with these new forms, the symptoms are still minimal.

as well marco cavalry, Responsible for EMA’s vaccines and COVID-19 therapeutic productsExpressed its medical opinion on the new variants of BA.4 and BA.5, agreed with the World Health Organization’s choice to monitor the situation:

,The prevalence of Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 subtypes needs to be carefully monitored in South Africa and other regions to understand whether they will cause an increase in cases in the EU as well – Cavalry also Recalls that – last week, the European Commission urged member states to take a step forward in their planning and use the summer months to move from emergency management of the pandemic to a sustainable mode.

And vaccines – he concluded – are a central pillar of our response to COVID,

So should we expect a new vaccination campaign in the fall? And how many of us will continue to be vaccinated? most likely In the fall we should be dealing with a new vaccineUpdated for new coronavirus variants.

Somehow, the doctors also pointed out that There is a certain despondency and austerity towards the administration of a new vaccine.Updated though.