Pune: India detected its first case of Omicron subvariant BQ.1 in a sample in Pune on Monday. This comes after India’s Gujarat Biotechnology recently discovered another variant BF.7 which has also raised the question of snowballing ahead of the festive season. This latest covid sub-variant is a descendant of Omicron’s BA.5 which is currently the dominant version of SARS-CoV-2 mainly in the US.Also Read – After the new Covid variant was reported abroad, the Kerala government has intensified the preventive measures
According to scientists, both the sub-variants BQ.1 and BF.7 pack mutations that can make them infectious and easily evade the immune system, The Times of India reported. Also Read – New COVID variant, new wave? Why Experts Advise Caution for Fresh Omicron Variant BF.7 Ahead of Diwali
OMICRON New Variant BQ.1: What We Know
- According to the CDC’s latest estimate, the new variant BQ.1 accounts for at least 1 in 10 cases in the US.
- President Joe Biden’s chief medical adviser and top infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci sounded the alarm regarding this new emergence of BQ. 1 Variants have already overtaken many competing strains in European countries from England to Germany, which have already seen a wave of anew.
- According to the CDC, BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 each currently account for an estimated 5.7 percent of infections nationwide.
- Experts noted a “large number of unique mutations” in variants such as BQ.1 and speculated that they may evade immunity from previous infections or vaccinations.
- BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 also appear on track to be overtaken by the only other strain that still outnumbers them: BA 4.6, which currently makes up 12.2% of infections.
Should we be worried?
While there has been no significant change to make conclusive arguments in India, BQ.1 has shown signs of surpassing the level of vaccine immunity in other countries. Also Read – Your salary may be restored to pre-pandemic levels by fiscal end. Check the details here
“When you find a variant like that, you look at what their rate of increase is as a relative proportion of the variant, and this is a very troubling doubling time,” Dr. Anthony Fauci, chief medical adviser to the US president, told CBS News.
According to a ToI report, a scientist from the National Institute of Virology (NIV) said that this progeny of omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 is likely to increase and should not be ignored.
As a precaution, experts advise India to improve its sewage monitoring system.
When BF.7 was detected, according to experts, the Diwali rush is likely to trigger another wave of this new Covid variant. So, advised to be cautious, people should take necessary steps and mask up its time! Better to be safe than sorry!
