Nicola Sturgeon yesterday confirmed that a sub-variant of Omicron has been discovered to be in circulation in Scotland.
BA.2, which is also called Stealth Omicron, was found by way of extra research into Covid exams in Scots labs.
Research are being carried out on the Covid pressure, which has been recognized as a ‘variant below investigation’.
The First Minister instructed Scots that there's up to now ‘no trigger for any alarm’ however the variant ‘warrants additional examine’.
Here's what we find out about BA.2 up to now.
Stealth Omicron
Stealth Omicron, which is named BA.2, a sub-type of the Omicron pressure first recognized in the direction of the tip of 2021.
The variant has been designated as a ‘variant below investigation’ by the World Well being Organisation and UK well being officers.
BA.2 has changed the unique Omicron pressure, BA.1, in because the dominant variant in a variety of nations - together with the Philippines, Nepal, Qatar, India and Denmark, the place it was first found.
In contrast to the unique Omicron pressure, the S-gene - which has been a scientific marker of BA.1 an infection - has been present in BA.2.
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What number of circumstances in Scotland
Nicola Sturgeon yesterday confirmed that 26 circumstances of BA.2 have been discovered by way of genomic sequencing in Scotland - however that is prone to be an underestimate.
The First Minister stated that she expects that quantity to extend as extra sequencing outcomes are reported.
She additionally acknowledged that the proportion of PCR exams with an S-gene group has declines, which may point out growing transmission of BA.2 in Scotland.
Does it trigger extra extreme an infection?
Investigations into BA.2 are on the preliminary stage globally up to now.
Nonetheless in Denmark, the place BA.2 has overtaken the unique Omicron pressure, has not seen a distinction within the severity of an infection.
The World Well being Organisation stated that BA.2 doesn't seem like anymore extreme than BA.1.
Specialists have in contrast the signs skilled from BA.1 to that of a chilly or a flu and the danger of hospitalisation is decrease than earlier Covid variants.
Dr Boris Pavlin, of WHO’s Covid-19 Response Workforce, stated: “ different nations the place BA.2 is now overtaking, we’re not seeing any greater bumps in hospitalisation than anticipated.”
Transmissibility
Early research into the brand new Covid pressure have advised that BA.2 is extra transmissible than authentic Omicron.
A examine carried out in Denmark analysed Covid infections in additional than 8,500 households between December and January.
It discovered that BA.2 is extra transmissible and is extra in a position to infect vaccinated folks when in comparison with BA.1.
Investigations into this stay ongoing throughout the globe.
Vaccine effectivity
The World Well being Organisation has stated that vaccine proceed to supply related ranges of safety in opposition to the Omicron sub-variant.
Research launched by the UK Well being Safety Company final month revealed that three vaccine doses can scale back the danger of loss of life from Omicron an infection by 95 per cent in these aged 50 and over - two weeks after receiving a booster jab.
Dr Pavlin stated: “Vaccination is profoundly protecting in opposition to extreme illness, together with for Omicron. BA.2 is quickly changing BA.1. Its impression is unlikely to be substantial, though extra information are wanted.”