The invasion of Ukraine by Russia and the outbreak of war in the heart of Europe partly diverted public opinion from issues related to the pandemic from Covid-19, which, moreover, seems to have raised its head in recent weeks thanks to the first lightening measures and the emergence of sub-variants. Starting with the Omicron 2 variant, defined as ‘the most contagious ever’.
The Omicron 2 variant
It is called variant BA.2, but we are getting to know it with the name of variant Omicron 2. BA.1 would in fact be the “original” Omicron one. Number two, however, would not be a descendant of this one, but a strain that evolved in parallel from a common ancestor. Both have many mutations in common, but there are major, albeit microscopic, differences between the two. Certainly Omicron BA.2or more commonly Omicron 2is the version of the Sars-CoV-2 virus most contagious ever with a spreading capacity 30 percent greater than Omicron 1. According to several researchers, it was born in India last December and then spread to China, Israel, Denmark, Australia, Canada and Singapore. And now also in Europe, including Italy.
Omicron Variant 2: Should We Worry?
First of all, the World Health Organization has not yet included BA.2 among the Vocs, the variants that cause concern among the scientific community, such as the Omicron and the Delta, responsible for the latest and most serious waves of the Covid pandemic. However, WHO has asked researchers to track it and study it closely. For now we know that BA.2 differs from BA.1 for some mutations in the Spike protein, which makes up the corona from which the virus takes its name, and which serves the pathogen to anchor itself to human cells, invade them and reproduce.
Omicron variant 2, symptoms
It is unclear whether Omicron 2 causes more severe symptoms than Omicron, which we know is much more infectious than other variants, and should however cause milder symptoms than Delta, affecting the upper respiratory tract, manifesting as a cold. However Omicron 2 is reported to frequently affect the gut. The 6 new symptoms are nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, heartburn and bloating. Up until now we were used to symptoms such as fever, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, muscle aches, headache, possible loss of smell or taste, sore throat or hoarse voice, nasal congestion.
Omicron 2 and vaccination coverage
Experts agree that the vaccines currently in use are effective against the sub-variant BA.2. They are able to protect those who contract it against serious illness, particularly those who have received a booster dose. People who are infected are unlikely to be hospitalized.
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