The original Omicron variant has been classified as a concern by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Now, there are two sub-variants, BA.1 and BA.2, that are causing some concern for public health. WHO is currently monitoring the latest subvariant since it could potentially be more contagious and has a genetic mutation that makes it harder to distinguish using PCR tests from the Delta variant and original Omicron variant. That is why it is referred to as a “stealth Omicron COVID.”
The information around the BA.1 and BA.2 variants is still in development, but below is an informational guide on everything we know so far.
How COVID-19 Variants Are Created
If you’re wondering how the coronavirus develops variants, here is a quick guide on the science behind mutations, variants, and strains.
A couple of definitions are helpful to keep in mind. A mutation is when a virus replicates and has differences in the DNA or RNA end copy. A variant is when a virus accumulates enough mutations to form, and a strain is when a researcher can prove a variant has new biologic capabilities.
An important scientific note is that viruses are not living things since they require a host to survive. Once inside a host, like your body, it will reproduce and spread, transmitting to those you come into contact with to stay alive. The more a virus circulates in a population, the more time it has to adapt to challenges by mutating itself.
All viruses mutate but not all at the same rate. Influenza, also known as the flu, mutates at a higher rate since people become immune to an older version of the virus; this is why you need to get a flu shot every year.
UnityPoint Health’s Infectious Disease Expert, Dr. Leyla Best, reports pressure from selected cells in the body can be related to COVID-19 variants. Dr. Best says, “This hypothesis emerged regarding some of the COVID-19 variants. It states if a virus infects a person who doesn’t have a very strong immune system, for example, someone with cancer, then the body isn’t able to clear the virus very well. They can then say, ‘Hey, how are you going to attack me and make changes based on that?’”
Severity of Stealth Omicron COVID
The original Omicron variant, also known as BA. 1, was reported as the most transmissible version of Omicron, but experts say that BA. 2 is likely to become the dominant one. The World Health Organization disclosed the virus is circulating in at least 69 countries, including the United Kingdom, Denmark, South Africa, and the United States.
Denmark experienced an early surge of the BA.2 version of Omicron, which took up almost half of the COVID-19 cases in January. A researcher at the University of Copenhagen said this in part because they saw the disease had “strong immune-evasive properties.”
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention is working closely with global public health and industry partners to discover more about the viral variant. Some countries experienced a sharp increase in Omicron cases followed by a decrease, and experts report that this trend could drag out the threat of Omicron and other coronavirus variants.
Vaccinations and Variant Effectiveness
One of the reasons why Denmark’s BA.2 surge was overcome is that vaccinated individuals were able to resist contracting it. From Denmark and the United Kingdom, research suggested that vaccines reduce the amount of Omicron cases.
An important factor is that most people aren’t able to easily learn what variant of coronavirus they are infected with. CNN Medical Analyst Dr. Leana Wen dived into the information surrounding BA.1 and BA.2 and reported BA.1 is still the more common variant spreading in the population. She also added that BA.1 and BA.2 are very similar to one another, and if you recently had COVID-19, you are unlikely to contract BA.2 in the near future.
However, there is no research to support recovery from COVID-19 and any of its variants will provide long-term immunity. The healthcare community stresses the importance of getting fully vaccinated to protect against the virus and prevent becoming severely ill or hospitalized.
The Mysteries We Don’t Know Yet
The biggest question medical researchers are trying to answer is how BA.2 transmits so rapidly. The frustration scientists have is they can’t anticipate changes by studying a virus’s genetic code or structure; they have to observe how viruses behave in the real world to discover how it spreads.
Healthcare experts are saying that this won’t be the last variant of the coronavirus. As mentioned before, viruses mutate to replicate their existence, but there is no longer much concern if you are fully vaccinated and have received the booster shots. What to be on the lookout for is when experts report if a COVID-19 variant is more contagious, more severe, or overrides prior immunization.
The staff at Hillcroft Physicians P.A. and I care deeply about keeping our community healthy, and we urge you to get vaccinated to protect you and your family. On Fridays, we provide the Moderna vaccine to patients 18 and older. For appointments, call 713-988-3921.
