A More Infectious and Puzzling Omicron Subvariant Surges in Israel
COVID Experts have been hard-pressed with evaluating the risk of the BA.2 subvariant, stumped by why it has become dominant in some countries while failing to take off in others
The number of infections caused by the BA.2 subvariant of the BA.1 omicron coronavirus has surged in the past two weeks, and now accounts for 11 percent of cases among travelers entering Israel. The figure jumped from 7 percent following the entry of a group of Nepalese workers infected with the new subvariant into the country.
According to the Health Ministry, 350 infections with the BA.2 subvariant have been verified. “At present we know that the subvariant is more infectious, but does not cause more severe illness than the BA.1 variant,” a ministry spokesman said.
“There is almost no delta morbidity and most of the current morbidity is from the omicron BA.1 variant and the BA.2 subvariant. We are still in the midst of a wave with very high [infectiousness]," Zarka said, "a wave which we have not seen the likes of previously and which unfortunately is yet to end.”
https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news...ectious-more-puzzling-covid-strain-1.10580797
New subvariant of Omicron: What do we know?
Scientists have warned that substrain BA.2 is ‘gaining ground’
https://www.rt.com/news/547983-omicron-subvariant-difference-explainer/
BA.2: Omicron sub-variant detected in 57 countries, says WHO
UN health agency says initial data shows BA.2 is a little more infectious than earlier versions of Omicron.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/2/2/omicron-sub-variant-found-in-57-countries-says-who
