The new BA 2 variant is spreading in France. Should we be worried about it?
Covid-19, like all viruses, has mutations. Questioned by aufeminin, Doctor Blachier explains that today “we have a population that is immunized globally, either by vaccines or by infections, which means that if the virus wants to circulate again in the population, it is necessary that it escapes immunity by changing its form”. Last significant mutation identified: the BA.2 variant. Where is he from ? The French Scientific Council explains that BA 2 is one of the subtypes derived from the Omicron variant. Still according to the Scientific Council, the BA.2 subtype currently represents between 3 and 4% of circulating variants, especially in Africa and Asia. The Minister of Health has confirmed his presence in France. It is complicated to spot it, because screening involves changing the screening techniques of the tests.
A supposedly less dangerous BA.2 variant
Martin Blachier explains to aufeminin: “Omicron is the first wave that circulates in an immune population, so this variant is undoubtedly a harbinger of future less virulent variants. But we remain cautious”. This could well be the case for the BA.2 subtype. Noteworthy characteristic however: its high contagiousness: “What surprised us was how quickly this sub-variant, which circulated a lot in Asia, settled in Denmark”Explain epidemiologist Antoine Flahault in Les Échos. He adds that we have “for the moment the impression that it is of a severity comparable to Omicron”. WHO director Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus urges caution about the future: “It is dangerous to assume that (the highly contagious variant) Omicron will be the last variant or to talk about endgame.” Other more dangerous variants could again emerge, as we have seen with the dynamics of influenza.