“BA. 5 is a strain that has properties related to increased transmission of the virus, which is why it is so prevalent in the United States and around the world,” says Matthew Binnicker, Ph. D. , director of Mayo Clinique Clinical Virology. Laboratory. ” It also has safe homes of what we call ‘immune evasion’ that allows the virus to bypass some of the past immunity from vaccination or past infection. “
BA. 2. 75
A subvariant known as BA. 2. 75 is also monitored through the World Health Organization (WHO) and the CDC. Since its detection in India in May, cases of BA. 2. 75 have been reported in more than a dozen countries. It was also unofficially called Centaurus.
“BA. 2. 75 has mutations in the gene encoding the virus’ spike protein. This is the component of the virus that protrudes and binds to the host’s mobile receptor, and those mutations allow the virus to better bind to that receptor,” says Dr. Binnicker. “It can infect human mobiles more. And it also has mutations that can make our antibodies, which are generated in reaction to vaccination, less able to bind to or neutralize the virus. it can possibly spread more temporarily and can also evade immunity from vaccination or a past infection. “
Dr. Binnicker says this strain causes a low number of infections in the United States, but that it could be replaced in the coming weeks or months.
Most ailments and hospitalizations due to COVID-19 infection come from the BA. 4 and BA. 5 variants. So how does the subvariant BA. 2. 75 affect people?
“BA. 2. 75 appears to have a higher rate of infectivity,” says Dr. Binnicker. “Therefore, it spreads better from one user to another. We don’t have any false knowledge to recommend that it causes more serious illness, but it’s vital to note that as more and more people become infected, even with a less virulent strain, the chances of the virus infecting someone who is more vulnerable to a serious infection increase. serious illness and being hospitalized. This is a fear when a virus can infect other people at a higher rate because the chances of the virus infecting a person who is very likely to have worse outcomes and then increase. “
Looking ahead to the long term, as children across the country are in a position to return to school, Dr. Binnicker says it will be important to keep an eye on the infection rate.
“It is certain that as we enter the fall and winter months of 2022, and then into 2023, new strains of the virus will accumulate, adding BA. 27. 5, as young people return to school. They will interact and there will be an accumulation in the rate of virus transmission, adding COVID-19. “
Vaccination
Dr. Binnicker says COVID-19 vaccination is still the way to reduce infections, hospitalizations, and deaths.
“If you’ve recently been vaccinated or given a booster, your antibody and immunity levels are very high. Even with new strains that appear to have immune escape properties, those very high levels of antibodies and immunity generated in reaction to vaccination or booster seem to have a smart protective effect against a user contracting a disease, especially a serious illness. “
Dr. Binnicker urges everyone to make sure they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and to receive boosters if they are eligible.
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