The latest COVID subvariant creates a new wave and avoids immunity

May 4, 2022 – As COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations begin to increase again in the United States, public health authorities are monitoring several new Omicron subvariants that contribute to the number of cases.

In some parts of the United States, a spin-off of the BA.2 subvariant called BA.2.12.1 is the main cause. In other countries, Omicron subvariants called BA.4 and BA.5 are pushing up cases. To CNN..

All three subvariants spread faster than BA.2 and appear to create their own COVID-19 waves.

According to the United States, the United States currently reports an average of more than 62,000 cases per day. Data tracker from New York TimesMarking a 50% increase in the last two weeks.

CNN reports that cases in Georgia, Hawaii, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, South Dakota, and Washington have increased in all but four states compared to the previous week. Has increased by more than 50%. In New York, more than a quarter of the state’s population belongs to “high” community-level counties.

According to CNN, BA.4 and BA.5 have contributed to the increase in the number of cases in South Africa over the past two weeks. There are also more positive tests and hospitalizations. As of the end of April, the two subvariants accounted for about 60% of new cases in the country.

Subvariant immunity

BA.4 and BA.5 can escape antibodies from previous infections caused by the original Omicron variant BA.1, which caused the COVID-19 surge in December and January. .. The new submutants also appear to escape the antibodies of those who have been vaccinated and suffered from a breakthrough BA.1 infection.

so New preprint research, South African researchers tested antibodies in the blood to understand if they could knock out the BA.4 and BA.5 viruses. Those who were not vaccinated but were recently infected with BA.1 had a one-seventh chance that the antibody would wipe out BA.4 and BA.5. People who were vaccinated but recently had a BA.1 breakthrough infection were one-third more likely to have such antibodies.

Scientists around the world are now trying to understand how these subvariants are rapidly mutating and escaping. Immunity.. In front of COVID-19 PandemicThe researcher thought coronavirus It hasn’t changed much, but now their perspective has changed.

“The virus has been shown to mutate slowly, but when they started picking up good mutations, they kept going back and forth,” said Dr. Andipekosi, a virologist at Johns Hopkins University and a professor of molecular microbiology and immunology. Told. CNN.

Subvariant reinfection

With the increasing number of cases of BA.4 and BA.5 in South Africa, scientists are paying particular attention to reinfection in people who have recently developed cases of Omicron. To Los Angeles Times.. Approximately 90% of South Africa’s population is immune to early Omicron variants through previous infections or vaccinations.

So far, only dozens of sequences of BA.4 and BA.5 have been reported in the United States. Researchers are not sure if the two subvariants will surge in the United States or other countries, but there is no reassurance of protection from vaccination or previous prophylaxis. Infection and surge may occur.

The CDC also recommends that people continue to wear masks on planes, buses, trains, other public transport and places where many people gather. To Washington post.. Despite last month’s ruling that broke federal transport mask obligations, the CDC emphasized this week that masks will continue to thwart the spread of COVID-19.

“The CDC continues to recommend that all people, passengers and workers, wear appropriate masks. respirator CDC Director Rochelle Walensky, MD, is an indoor public and transportation hub that protects ourselves and other travelers in these massively mixed population environments. ” In the statement..

“It’s important not only for us all to protect ourselves, but also to consider others at high risk of severe COVID-19 and those who haven’t been vaccinated yet,” she said. .. “Wearing a mask on indoor public transport protects individuals and communities.”