WHO: New subvariants of omicron discovered in over 30 countries

Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5 have been detected in more than a dozen countries, the World Health Organization said, reported from CNBC.

Less than 700 cases of BA.4 have been detected across at least 16 countries and more than 300 cases of BA.5 have been found across at least 17 countries.

The two subvariants, BA.4 and BA.5, have high rates of detection in South Africa in particular.

South Africa reported 395 cases of BA.4 and 134 cases of BA.5 as of May 6, the highest numbers across all countries, according to a report released by the UK’s Health Security Agency last week. Countries aren’t sequencing the genetic data for every COVID case so actual infections are likely higher.

Just over 36 cases of BA.4 were found in Austria, 24 in the UK, 20 in the US and 17 in Denmark, according to the report. Belgium, Israel, Germany, Italy, Canada, France, the Netherlands, Australia, Switzerland and Botswana all reported under 10 cases of BA.4, the report said.

Some 57 cases of BA.5 have been detected in Portugal, 52 in Germany and 17 in the UK, according to the report. The US, Denmark, France, Austria, Belgium, Hong Kong, Australia, Canada, Israel, Norway, Pakistan, Spain and Switzerland all reported less than 10 BA.5 infections, the report said.

Another omicron subvariant called BA.2.12.1 has been detected in 23 countries. There are more than 9,000 reported sequences of the subvariant, most of which comes from the US.

BA.2.12.1 made up about 42.6% of all sequences new cases in the US during the week that ended on May 7, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. BA.2 was still the dominant subvariant in the country, making up 56.4% of all new sequences cases that week. BA.2.12.1 was dominant in New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, making up 66.3% of all new sequenced cases in those states and territories, CDC data said.

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