According to data from GISAID, the global platform to share genomic data of influenza viruses, the BA.2 sub-lineage of the Omicron variant is currently extremely dominant across India, including Telangana.
Genetic researchers have reported 256 Covid positive cases of BA.2 origin in Telangana between December 2021 and February 2022, indicating that the new BA.2 sub-lineage, also known as the stealth variant of Omicron, is becoming more dominant in the state.
While the impact of the new sub-lineage on the third wave of the pandemic is still unknown, health officials in Telangana believe that in the coming weeks, the BA.2 could eventually replace BA.1, the first Omicron variant reported by South Africa in November 2021.
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Previously, between December and January, genetic sequencing researchers from the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Sequencing Consortium (INSACOG) reported 90 BA.2 positive cases in Telangana, which eventually grew to 256 by February 2nd.
While there’s no doubt that BA.2 is rapidly replacing BA.1, evidence from Europe, including Denmark, the United Kingdom, and South Africa, indicates that the new variant does not appear to be more severe than BA.1.
BA.2 variant to be more transmissible than BA.1
For people with compromised immunity, the severity of Omicron cases increases with age and underlying medical conditions. The new Omicron BA.2 variant is expected to be more transmissible than the previous one, and it is also expected to infect vaccinated people. Those with pre-existing medical conditions should take precautions, and those who have not been vaccinated should get Covid vaccines as soon as possible, according to officials.
ALSO READ : BA.2 Is 1.5 Times More Transmissible Than Original Omicron Strain: Study
So far, the WHO has identified four major sub-lineages of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant: BA.1, BA.1.1, BA.2 and BA.3. The Omicron-driven third Covid wave in India began with BA.1, and within a short period of time, the BA.2 sub-lineage or a new variant emerged, quickly replacing the first.
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