The BA.2 stealth Omicron subvariant is present in at least 40 countries and is able to evade detection even better than its predecessor. Here are some things you need to know about Omicron BA.2 and how to find out if you are infected with this variant of Corona or not.
Why is it called the stealth Omicron
Quoted from Marca.com, Thursday (3/2/2022) the reason behind the name is quite simple. So called because this subvariant is very good at avoiding detection. During the pandemic, the PCR test became the standard in detecting COVID-19. But even those tests may not be able to detect stealth Omicrons in those who have them.
Nonetheless, PCR assay is still the recommended way to detect this subvariance, and BA.2 is not believed to have greater virulence than the original Omicron.
Symptoms of Omicron BA.2
Another problem with detecting Omicron BA.2 is that its symptoms are almost identical to those of the original Omicron variant. These symptoms are fever, extreme fatigue, cough, sore throat, headache, muscle fatigue, and an increased heart rate.
Expert opinion
Experts are still studying this new subvariance, but some estimates have been made.
"BA.2 shares many mutations with BA.1, but also has many differences," tweeted Tom Peacock, a virologist at Imperial College London.
The #OmicronVariant sub-lineage known as BA.2 has been designated as a variant under investigation. The number of BA.2 cases is currently low, with the original Omicron lineage, BA.1, still dominant in the UK and further analyzes will now be undertaken. https://t.co/254m2rwJN5
— UK Health Security Agency (@UKHSA) January 21, 2022
Omicron BA.2 also has no Spike 69-70 mutation which means it does not cause S gene target failure in the Taqman qPCR assay. This test was used early on in the Omicron wave to estimate how fast BA.1 spreads.
Experts also point out that BA.2 appears to be the main Omicron lineage in (parts of) India and the Philippines and there is evidence that the variant evolved compared to BA.1 in Denmark, the UK and Germany.
The consistent growth across countries is evidence that Omicron BA.2 may be several degrees more infectious than BA.1. This is the main reason BA.2 is currently in the spotlight.
"Unfortunately, this is where most of the evidence ends. However we can make some preliminary guesses or observations. Very early observations from India and Denmark show no dramatic difference in severity compared to BA.1," Peacock said.
Scientists hope this data will become more solid (one way or another) in the coming weeks.