Emerging COVID Variant: Omicron's Offspring Takes Center Stage

The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified a new COVID-19 subvariant, named omicron BA.2 or the "son of omicron." This subvariant, which has caught the attention of health officials worldwide, has been detected in 49 countries and 17 states in the U.S., with over 10,800 cases reported as of the latest data.

BA.2 shares several new mutations in the area of its genome that codes for the Spike protein, which is targeted by current COVID-19 vaccines. However, as of now, there is no evidence that the subvariant can evade COVID-19 tests or cause more severe disease.

The emergence of new variants and subvariants, including BA.2, is not unexpected, according to Edward Walsh, M.D., professor of Infectious Diseases at the University of Rochester Medical Center. Walsh remains hopeful that BA.2 does not cause more severe disease or evade vaccines.

Certain COVID tests cannot easily distinguish BA.2 from other variants such as the delta strain, leading to its nickname "stealth omicron." Despite this, diagnostic tests are still valid and can detect the virus, they just can't identify which specific variant it is.

A global COVID variant tracker supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases is being used to track cases of BA.2. Early data suggests BA.2 may spread more easily than omicron, but more data is needed to confirm this and understand its potential impact on hospitalizations and death.

The collection of new data around the world is ongoing, and we are in a waiting game to understand the characteristics of BA.2 better. Questions regarding the subvariant's behaviour, such as how well current COVID-19 vaccines protect against it, if currently used medications and monoclonal antibodies are still effective, and if the subvariant causes more severe disease, are yet to be answered.

The WHO has not yet designated BA.2 as a "variant of concern" or even a "variant of interest." This does not mean that the subvariant is not being closely monitored. The WHO is keeping a close eye on BA.2 to determine if it can evade vaccines or cause more severe disease.

As we navigate through this phase of the pandemic, the hope is that we are headed for a phase where disease will be less and less severe. It is crucial to continue following public health guidelines, get vaccinated, and stay informed about the latest developments in the fight against COVID-19.