Amazon Quiz: BA.2 is the latest subvariant of which strain of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19?
Alpha
Beta
Delta
Omicron
Answer: Omicron
BA.2 is a subvariant of the omicron strain, which has largely been behind the third wave observed in some nations. While this subvariant is definitely more transmissible, there are lesser fears about its threat level to those who are vaccinated.
For now, several countries have also included the option of booster shots to ensure that those vaccinated can bolster their immunity against a possible coronavirus infection.
Also Read | Will Omicron sub-variants cause fourth COVID wave in India?
BA.2 differs from the previously known omicron strain by nearly 40 mutations. While the CDC pinned this subvariant as driving up the caseload in the US, Europe and China have also been on alert due to outbreaks linked with BA.2.
The World Health Organization (WHO) had attempted to stymy concerns over the new subvariant, saying “The Omicron variant of concern is currently the dominant variant circulating globally, accounting for nearly all sequences reported to GISAID. Omicron is made up of several sublineages, each of them being monitored by WHO and partners. Of them, the most common ones are BA.1, BA.1.1 and BA.2 (or Nextstrain clade 21L). At a global level, the proportion of reported sequences designated BA.2 has been increasing relative to BA.1 in recent weeks, however, the global circulation of all variants is reportedly declining”.
Also Read | Fresh cases of COVID fell by 24% last week: WHO report
Now, the world has seen more variants, BA.4 and BA.5 respectively. These are sister variants of BA.1, and the WHO noted “We are tracking a few dozen cases of two new sub-variants of the highly-transmissible Omicron strain. We are already tracking BA.1 and BA.2 – now globally dominant – as well as BA 1.1 and BA.3”.
Amazon Quiz: This famous scientist won the Nobel Prize for ___ in 1921. Fill in the blanks
Amazon Quiz: This company is headquartered in which German city?
