There is a new strain of the micronized variant of SARS-CoV-2 that the scientific community is particularly aware of. This variant of the virus, named BA.2.75, was first detected in India in early May and is present in at least a dozen other countries, including the United Kingdom, the United States, Germany, Canada and Australia.
Although it is “not yet possible to understand the clinical impact” of the new variant, as it emerged recently, it is “likely to be more transmissible” than the virus strains identified so far, notes Tiago Correa, professor of international public health at Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine of the University of Nova de Lisbon (IHMT-UNL). He adds that Centaurus, as it is called, presents “many mutations” compared to BA.5, the sub-factor that caused the recent wave of infections in Portugal.
On the other hand, says the specialist, “there is no evidence that it is associated with a more serious infection.” If so, the ‘pattern’ assumed by the micron variant is confirmed, with ‘increasingly transmissible’ strains and a greater risk of re-infection, but without consequences from the clinical and hospitalization point of view.
The specialist confirms that new strains and mutations of the virus are discovered in the laboratory at a rate of about a week. However, it is aware that BA.2.75 has received special attention, particularly as it is identified in countries that do not share a border. “There is no geographical connection. That alone is of interest.”
The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) classified BA.2.75 as a “variable under control” on July 7. The World Health Organization is also monitoring the new strain, although it has indicated that there are not enough samples yet to assess its severity.
Manuel Carmo Gómez, an epidemiologist and professor at the University of Lisbon’s Faculty of Sciences, stresses that there is “currently no evidence” that a BA 2.75 is associated with serious illness and a greater risk of hospitalization. It was classified as “important because it contains a group of related mutations common in BA.2”, which became prevalent in Portugal in March of this year, and “and other new mutations”.
Sub-variables will continue to appear. Until a “new epidemic wave” occurs
Although it has been detected in many countries, BA.2.75 “does not play a very important role in Europe,” the epidemiologist asserts, adding that he is not aware of cases in Portugal. However, he predicts that the micronized variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, to which this new strain belongs, “continues to evolve in the sense of more sub-variants with the ability to evade antibodies” conferred by vaccination and infection. Itself.
Among these new variants, “one will probably appear to escape all the immunity that people have and cause a new epidemic wave,” predicts Manuel Carmo Gomez. “We don’t know when that will happen or how serious the situation is at that point.”
In light of this, it is essential to ensure that the populations most at risk – the elderly, the immunocompromised and health professionals – continue to be “protected” with vaccines, the epidemiologist advocates.
Thiago Correa also stresses that new variants and strains of the virus will “continue to emerge”. “The most important thing” is to understand the impact of these findings on the vaccinated population, and thus “assess whether vaccination protocols should be changed and/or other approaches to vaccines adopted.”
“This discussion will continue in a cyclical fashion,” he says, noting that “we will be going backwards.” This means living with the virus and understanding how it changes, as well as the impact of these mutations on the health of the population.
Infections and deaths with a ‘downward’ trend in Portugal
In Portugal, the Ómicron strain of virus BA.5 is still dominant, which appeared in the country in mid-May and is “probably the most dangerous strain of all, as it has an extraordinary ability to evade antibodies”. At the end of June, it was responsible for 96% of infections, explains Manuel Carmo Gomez, adding further data on the epidemiological situation in Portugal.
He pointed out that the cases of infection are in a “descending trend”, after it reached its peak on May 20, with 27,500 cases recorded. This decline occurs “in all regions of the country” and is “transverse for all ages,” which “leads us to believe that infections will continue to decline in the coming days.” The average number of cases per day is currently 7,650.
The number of deaths also shows a “descending” trend, with Portugal averaging 17 deaths per day. In late May, early June, when the peak infections occurred, the average was 40 deaths per day. In the USA and in countries such as France, the UK and Germany, there is an “alarming” increase in infections and hospitalizations, which is mainly associated with BA.5 ratios, the epidemiologist describes. After passing through Portugal, BA.5 now invades the USA and Europe.
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