BA2 Virus Variant Regarded as the Most Infectious Disease in the World till Date

The BA2 variant of COVID-19 has now been regarded as the most contagious disease in the world till date, reported The National.

The BA2 is a subvariant of the Omicron, the other two being BA1 and BA3. According to The National, the three subvariants share 39 mutations in addition to their own respective ones with BA1, BA2 and BA3 having 20, 27, and 13 mutations respectively.

BA2, of late, has been responsible for present surges in coronavirus cases especially in the U.K. and in other countries. Professor Adrian Esterman, former scientist at the World Health Organization (WHO) said in a tweet, “Omicron BA2 is about 1.4 times more infectious than BA1.”

While studies conducted in the U.K. and Denmark found no evidence for increased severity and probability for hospitalization in cases of BA2, researchers in Hong Kong discovered that BA2 infections have more acute effects on children. They revealed, “The Omicron BA2 is more neuropathogenic than previous Sars-CoV-2 variants, influenza and parainfluenza viruses, resulting in more seizures [among children].”

However, the WHO also assured that anyone who has had a BA1 infection previously, will be protected against the BA2, reported The National. Experts have attributed present surges in cases to easing restrictions across the globe as vaccine immunity wanes after months following administration.

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