The Omicron sub-variant that made headlines just weeks ago has been found to be even more contagious and better at evading vaccines than any other Covid strain, according to a Danish study.
Scientists found that BA.2 spreads more easily across all groups regardless of sex, age, household size, and vaccination status.
The probability of the original Omicron strain spreading to household contacts was 29%, but this new sub-variant represents a 10% jump in this figure at 39%, according to the World Health Organisation.
A team of scientists affiliated with the University of Copenhagen and the Danish Health Ministry has concluded that it is also better at evading existing vaccines.
Their study explained that the relative increase in susceptibility to infection was significantly greater in vaccinated individuals than unvaccinated individuals.
Meanwhile, transmission rates among unvaccinated people were higher with BA.2 compared to BA.1, indicating unvaccinated people were carrying a higher viral load with BA.2.
While vaccinated people are less likely to pass on this strain of Covid-19, those who have received a booster were even less likely to transmit the virus than the fully vaccinated.
“This indicates that after a breakthrough infection, vaccination protects against further transmission, and more so for BA.2 than BA.1,” the scientists said.
Thankfully, Covid BA.2 infections are thought to be milder than delta variant infections, and vaccines are continuing to help protect against severe illness and hospitalisations.
The scientists insist that they will be keeping a watchful eye on BA.2 but said: “The combination of the high incidence of a relatively innocuous subvariant has raised optimism.”
According to the latest HPSC report, nine cases of the BA.2 variant have been detected in Ireland up to January 28, 2022.
