Concerns growing over threat of new Covid-19 sub variants

CONCERN is growing over two new sub-variants of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) that have driven up infection rates in the UK, sparking fears that other countries could soon likewise see a resurgence in cases.
Known as BA.4 and BA.5, the strains were discovered in South Africa in January and February respectively and are effectively the grandchildren of the Omicron variant that spread across the globe in late 2021, and feature three mutations to their spike proteins, which, it is feared, enable them to retrain their attack on human lung cells.
That means they have more in common with the earlier, more dangerous Alpha and Delta variants than the highly transmissible but milder Omicron, which targeted upper respiratory tract tissues.
Potentially, these mutations might also enable the sub-variants to sidestep antibodies from past infections or vaccination and therefore overcome immunity.
Preliminary data captured by Professor Kei Sato, of the University of Tokyo in Japan, appears to indicate as much, prompting the virologist to comment: “Altogether our investigations suggest that the risk of (these) Omicron variants, particularly BA.4 and BA.5, to global health is potentially greater than that of original BA.2.” – Independent