Greater risk of infection when exposed to BA.2

 The sub-variant ba.2 of the omicron has taken over Denmark. In a recent research on this, Danish scientists have reported that ba.2 is 33% more infectious than the first sub-variant ba.1 of the omicron and is also making people who have taken the booster faster.

All variants are in a way a member of the family of the original variants of the virus. In simpler parlance, omicron (B.1.1.529) is a basic variant of the coronavirus, which has three sub variants or strains - BA.1, BA.2 and BA.3. These also work to spread the infection rapidly in people just like omicrons.

Greater risk of infection when exposed to BA.2

The study was conducted between December and January by scientists from the States Serum Institute, Copenhagen University, Statistics Denmark and the Technical University of Denmark. The research examined 8,500 cases of coronavirus. The scientists found that of these patients who had ba.2 infection, they were 33% more able to infect others than ba.1 patients.

Lead scientist of the study Friedrich Plessner says that if you've been exposed to the BA.2 sub variant in your home, you have a 39% chance of getting the infection in the next seven days. At the same time, if you are exposed to BA.1, the chances of getting infected are 29%.

BA.2 easily outperforms the immune system

According to the researchers, the BA.2 strain has some properties that make it more infectious than the first sub-strain of the omicron. It is able to easily outperform the immune system of the human being, due to which people who have taken full vaccinations and boosters are also getting infected with it.

However, the need for vaccination is also highlighted in the study. According to health experts, the existing corona vaccines are effective against all the sub variants of Omicron. They are effective in protecting us from the danger of getting seriously ill and hospitalization.

Research has also found that there is no difference in the risk of hospitalization if the BA.1 and BA.2 sub-variants of omicron are infected. At present, more than 81% of people in Denmark are fully vaccinated and 61% have been given a booster dose.

Daminant strain formed in Denmark with BA.2

Most cases of omicrons worldwide are actually of the BA.1 sub-variant. However BA.2 is now increasingly replacing it. Cases are being reported in many countries including the US, UK, India, Sweden and Norway. At present, it has become a dominant strain in Denmark. Here 82% of the cases of omicrons are of ba.2 strain.