What is Centaurus?

Virologists have voiced their concerns about the emergence of another fast-spreading Omicron subvariant BA. 2.75. This subvariant is continuously gaining ground in Utah, USA, India and also around other parts of the world.

It is reported that the BA.2.75 variant, that was first detected in India in early May, is nicknamed “Centaurus”. According to an Austrian scientist Ulrich Elling who posted on Twitter and was cited by MedPage Today said that this subvariant from India is responsible for the bulk of Covid-19 cases.

In the UK, the cases have been rising at a faster rate and replacing the previously dominant BA.2 virus. Other than the UK, BA.2.75 virus has also since been detected in about 10 other countries, including the UK, US, Australia, Germany and Canada.

The World Health Organization is closely monitoring the situation and the chief scientist of WHO Dr Soumya Swaminathan, said there were not yet enough samples to assess its severity. 

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Clinical Symptoms of BA.2.75 variant induced infection

The infection caused by this variant is mild and asymptomatic. The common symptoms include fever, cough and cold, running nose and body ache which lasts for 2-3 days. Elderly people with comorbidities should be more careful and a doctor should be consulted on noticing such symptoms. 

BA. 2.75 reported in India 

Chief Scientist of WHO Soumya Swaminathan shared a video on Twitter saying that a sub-variant called the BA.2.75 has been “first reported from India and then from about ten other countries”. This is the second time a variant of the Covid-19 virus has been reported from India. Earlier the Delta variant of the coronavirus was also found in India and that led to the destructive second wave. Until May 11, 2021 it was considered as a variant of interest.