Posted on 02/18/2022 12:40:47 PM PST by fluorescence
The BA.2 virus-- a subvariant of the Omicron coronavirus variant-- isn't just spreading faster than its distant cousin, it may also cause more severe disease and appears capable of thwarting some of the key weapons we have against Covid-19, new research suggests.
New lab experiments from Japan show that BA.2 may have features that make it as capable of causing serious illness as older variants of Covid-19, including Delta.
And like Omicron, it appears to largely escape the immunity created by vaccines. A booster shot restores protection, making illness after infection about 74% less likely.
BA.2 is also resistant to some treatments, including sotrovimab, the monoclonal antibody that's currently being used against Omicron.
The findings were posted Wednesday as a preprint study on the bioRxiv server, before peer review. Normally, before a study is published in medical journal, it is scrutinized by independent experts. Preprints allow research to be shared more quickly, but they are posted before that additional layer of review.
"It might be, from a human's perspective, a worse virus than BA.1 and might be able to transmit better and cause worse disease," says Dr. Daniel Rhoads, section head of microbiology at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. Rhoads reviewed the study but was not involved in the research.
BA.2 is highly mutated compared with the original Covid-causing virus that emerged in Wuhan, China. It also has dozens of gene changes that are different from the original Omicron strain, making it as distinct from the most recent pandemic virus as the Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta variants were from each other.
Kei Sato, a researcher at the University of Tokyo who conducted the study, argues that these findings prove that BA.2 should not be considered a type of Omicron and that it needs to be more closely monitored.
(Excerpt) Read more at edition.cnn.com ...
Omicron spread around the world in like 2 weeks. BA.2 has been around at least a month and is still only 5% of cases in the US. If it was truly more transmissible it would be everywhere by now. BA.2 seems to be a dud right now.
They are setting the stage for all the vaxxed that will die from the variants after taking the safe and effective vaccine that gave then VAIDS
Just in time for the midterm elections. A reason to suspend the elections or allow people to vote online or by mail.
Here comes the fall lockdown just after the democrats trick everyone into voting for them because the “pandemic” is over.
Sorry, CNN, the New Variant! ploy has already been tried and we’re on to it. The mandates and restrictions must be lifted anyway.
“may”, “appears”, “suggest”
kind of like ya-got-no-phookin-idea.
BS.
They have cried wolf too often over covid for me to believe them any more.
Fear, fear, fear, fear ...
The vaccinations have created these variants.
seems odd it would get more lethal...
It's a good thing we're not hamsters!
No sign of this increased severity in HUMANS. Instead, it appears to be less severe.
CNN
🤡
BA.2 was identified in December. As of 2/6/22 it comprised 15 percent of all sequenced COVID samples. B.1.1.529 Omicron was renamed to BA.1 and now running around as BA.1.1. There has also been suspicion of a BA.3 emerging.
It’s all normal progression of a virus.
Coronavirus PING!
Owen mentioned this variant. He has high hopes for it, thinks it looks deadly.
Actually it’s a little late. When delta was starting down is when we heard of omicron from SA. They are way late with this one.
It's almost like this variant was PR firm designed to promote boosters. Almost...
It would if it was new lab variants being released according to schedule.
If it’s not Omicron, then it must be Pi.
You get a Pi, You get a Pi, everyone gets a Pi!!!
Guess what. We don’t care.
It’s actual name is BS2 Virus - trademark by A. Fauci, Death Merchants Inc`.
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