New omicron sub-variant part of ‘big family of viruses”

SEATTLE — A sub-variant of omicron has now shown up in Washington state, just two months after the first omicron cases were first detected here.

This new sub variant of omicron is called BA 2. Two case have been in detected in Washington so far.

Now the work begins to figure out what threat this new version posts.

A computational biologist who works in virology lab at UW Medicine says BA2 is considered a “sub-variant of concern.”

It is news a pandemic-weary public doesn’t want to hear. 

“Omicron itself is classified as a variant of the coronavirus ‘of concern,’” said Dr. Pavitra Roychoudury. “So now we can think of omicron as a big family of viruses. And within that family of viruses you’re going to have sub viruses or groupings of viruses.

Dr. Roychoudury is a computational biologist working in the virology lab at UW Medicine. She says within the family of sub variants of omicron is BA2, the one that has the health care community concerned, especially given the transmissibility of omicron.

Are these sub-variants more transmissible?

“Potentially,” she says. “And that is where this concern about BA2 comes from. That’s because it has been seen to spread rapidly in some parts of the world, like Denmark.”

Dr. Roychoudury says there is still little known.

“What it’s going to do next or how prevalent it’s going to be is a matter of time,” she said.

She says the best way to fight this new sub-variant remains the same, getting vaccinated.

It is a message that appears to be reaching even the youngest among us.

“Well, I don’t want to get COVID,” said 8-year-old Neev Iyer, Sammamish, explaining why he got the jab. “No one does.”

“I’m involved in my school’s musical,” said Evie Sweet, a 16-year-old singer from Seattle. “And to do like tech week and stuff and like dress rehearsals without our masks on, we have to be vaccinated. So, it’s either be vaccinated or get tested twice a week.”

Dr. Roychoudury says it isn’t all bad news. Scientists are learning more about the coronavirus and all of its variations every day. Much-needed new vaccines to fight omicron are also on the horizon.

©2022 Cox Media Group