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Zhuang Pinghui

As the rapidly spreading BA.5 Omicron coronavirus subvariant drives a surge in cases in many countries, health experts are urging people to get booster shots and wear masks.
Scientists are also concerned about the new and highly mutated BA.2.75 Omicron subvariant – dubbed Centaurus – as it gains ground in India, where it was first detected in early June.
Leo Poon, a virologist at the University of Hong Kong, said immunity from vaccinations and previous infections was likely to be waning for many people.
“There is some evidence showing that infection [with BA.5] is possible for people who have been vaccinated or infected with BA.2 before,” Poon said, referring to an earlier Omicron subvariant. “If it’s spreading in the community it is possible there could be an upsurge in BA.5 cases.”


Meanwhile, the new BA.2.75 subvariant appears to be on the rise, particularly in India.
“Sequences until today solidify the impression that BA.2.75 is on a steep rise in India and elsewhere, in particular also relative to BA.5 at least in the Indian context,” Ulrich Elling, a geneticist and molecular biologist at the Austrian Academy of Sciences, tweeted on Saturday.
BA.2.75 has been found in more than 10 other countries including Australia, Germany, the United Kingdom and Canada. Scientists are concerned that mutations to its spike protein could make it more effective at evading immunity from vaccines and previous infection, but it is not known if it can cause more severe disease than earlier strains.
The World Health Organization is tracking the subvariant but has yet to make any suggestions based on it.
Poon from HKU said it was still too early to say how it will spread and how it differs from other strains.
“We have to monitor whether this BA.2.75 is spreading in other countries or not,” he said. “Meantime, those who have been vaccinated, maybe three doses or a booster, tend to have less chance of a severe clinical outcome so I think the best protection still is to get vaccinated.”
BA.4 and BA.5: what we know about the new Omicron subvariants
BA.5 has also been found to get around immunity, and has so far been detected in 83 countries. The WHO’s latest epidemiological report said BA.5 accounted for 52 per cent of total sequences filed to global database GISAID.
The strain is now dominant in the United States. In the week to July 2, 53.5 per cent of cases were caused by BA.5, compared with 27.2 per cent for BA.2.12.1 and 16.5 per cent for BA.4 – both also Omicron subvariants.
Ashish Jha, the White House’s Covid-19 response coordinator, on Sunday tweeted that there could be a new wave of cases.
“While vaccines continue to be remarkable at preventing serious illness, over time, six or more months out from the last shot, protection against infection wanes substantially, and that sets up a risk, now that BA.5 is dominant, of creating a new wave of infections,” Jha wrote.


Case numbers in the US remain steady at about 100,000 a day and there has not been a rise in deaths or severe cases requiring intensive care.
Again, it is not clear yet whether BA.5 causes more severe disease. In South Africa, where BA.5 was first reported, the BA.5 wave peaked in May, and both hospitalisations and deaths did not surpass the country’s first Omicron wave in late 2021.
But in Portugal, BA.5 has caused an increase in hospitalisations even though the vaccination and booster rates are high.
Jha said people over 50 who have not had a vaccination this year should get one, and anyone going to a large indoor gathering or visiting someone vulnerable should get tested beforehand.
Poon from HKU also noted that masks were still a good idea, especially in crowded places like on public transport. “Masking seems to be an effective way to reduce transmission,” he said.


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Coronavirus pandemic

As BA.5 fuels another surge in cases, new Omicron subvariant Centaurus is also on the march

Health experts are urging people to get booster shots and wear masks as new Omicron subvariants rapidly spread. Photo: AP

Coronavirus: should Hong Kong be concerned about global rise in BA.4 and BA.5 cases? Here’s what we know about more transmissive Omicron subvariants

BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants have been surging globally due to their higher transmissibility. Photo: Shutterstock

Infectious disease expert Professor Ivan Hung. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

People getting tested for Covid-19 during the fifth wave outbreak in the city. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

Arrivals at Hong Kong International Airport. Photo: K. Y. Cheng

China records first cases of new Omicron variant BA.5

The city of Xian is imposing a series of fresh curbs on residents. Photo: Shutterstock 

Testing is being stepped up across the country as part of its zero-Covid strategy. Photo: Xinhua

New Omicron strains better at dodging protection from vaccines and previous infection, study says

The US Food and Drug Administration told vaccine makers on June 30 that Covid boosters for this fall and winter should target the BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron strains. Photo: AFP

News

China

Science


Scientists are concerned about the highly mutated BA.2.75, dubbed Centaurus
It is gaining ground in India and could be more effective at evading immunity



Scientists are concerned about the highly mutated BA.2.75, dubbed Centaurus, which is gaining ground in India.


As BA.5 fuels another surge in cases, new Omicron subvariant Centaurus is also on the march

Scientists are concerned about the highly mutated BA.2.75, dubbed Centaurus It is gaining ground in India and could be more effective at evading immunity

Scientists are concerned about the highly mutated BA.2.75, dubbed Centaurus

It is gaining ground in India and could be more effective at evading immunity