Omicron 5, the sub-variant raises concern: “Resists heat, sixth wave risk». It is now well established, Covid resists the heat and is alarming in Germany and Portugal for the boom in infections and victims of recent weeks. Despite the decidedly mild temperatures. Therefore, eyes focused on the new sub-variant BA.5, responsible for the resurgence of the epidemic in the two countries.
Omicron 5isolated for the first time last February in South Africa, is characterized by a high rate of transmissibility and immunoevasion (i.e. the ability to evade vaccine immunity and cure). At the moment, a sixth wave of infections is underway in Portugal, driven by BA.5. Risk also in Italy? Let’s go into detail.
Omicron 5, sixth wave alarm
Covid resists even in the heat and in Germany and Portugal the alarm goes off. In both countries there has been a boom in infections and deaths caused by the new variant of the virus. An anomalous situation compared to previous years, when the epidemiological curves lowered with the arrival of summer.
Last Wednesday, the Portugal recorded 26,848 new cases of Covid and 47 deaths. This is the highest daily balance since February 17. Not only. According to data from the Portuguese Ministry of Health, 1,455 people have died of Covid since the country entered its sixth wave in April and May. «Mortality is higher than the expected values for the period of the year», confirm from the ministry. The government fears that the epidemiological curves will remain high until the end of June.
But what is causing this resurgence of the virus? The Portuguese Ministry of Health points the finger at Omicron 5. Subvariant also increasing in Germania. According to the weekly bulletin of the German disease control agency, the Robert Koch Institute, the share of Omicron 5 infections has doubled every week in the last month. Passing from 0.2% at the end of April to 5.2% on 22 May.
The German government therefore fears a sixth wave in the autumn. “The Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 variants are highly contagious. This could lead to the next wave in the fallThe German health minister wrote on Twitter Karl Lauterbach.
«Covid-19 is not over, as evidenced by the heavy Omicron epidemic in Portugal»commented Frank Ulrich Montgomery, president of the World Medical Association, in an interview with the newspaper Rheinische Post.
Omicron 5, all the symptoms to keep under control
In Italy, the epidemiological curves continue to decline. In yesterday’s bulletin, Friday 3 June, the new positives in the 24 hours were 9,429. The victims 40. At the moment, the sub-variant BA.2 is still driving the infections. But be it Omicron 4 that Omicron 5 have been isolated in our country and it is feared that in autumn they could be due to a new wave.
What are the symptoms to watch out for? In an interview with Money.it, the head of Infectious Disease of Tor Vergata Massimo Andreoni has explained: “Omicron has been characterized by numerous mutations and this makes us understand that we will have further subvariants. An attempt has been made to define the symptoms of each, but there is no such clear-cut differentiation. Certainly there were more and less present symptoms. At the beginning of the pandemic, loss of taste and smell prevailed, while Omicron mainly affects the very upper respiratory tract. So the most frequent symptoms are sore throat and cold. There is less involvement of the lower respiratory tract».