BA.5 Subvariant Drives Majority of Recent Covid-19 Cases

Virus experts believe BA.5 is particularly adept at evading immune protections built up from prior infections and vaccines, giving it an advantage as it takes over as the major subvariant. This adds to the possibility people will contract Covid-19 repeatedly while facing the risk of developing complications like long-running and sometimes debilitating symptoms.

  New BA.2.75 Omicron Subvariant: Here’s The ‘Centaurus’ Covid-19 Coronavirus

While it ain’t the “Centaurus” of Covid-19 attention right now, the new BA.2.75 Omicron subvariant does deserve to be closely monitored.

Here We Go Again: The BA.2 Version of Omicron

BA.1 and its siblings seem to be a threat mainly to those who are unvaccinated, haven’t been boosted, or haven’t been infected recently—including in countries with Zero-COVID policies.

Here’s What We Know About Omicron XE — The New Covid Variant Found In The U.K.

XE is a recombinant virus—effectively a combination of genetic material from two or more different viruses—containing elements of the original omicron strain, BA.1, and the more infectious BA.2 subvariant, also known as “stealth omicron.”

If you've had omicron before, are you safe from infection by the new variants?

The two new studies start to explain why, all of a sudden, these new variants have started to spread so quickly. The answer boils down to one key factor: Their mutations allow them to re-infect people who have already had an omicron infection. This reinfection risk may be higher for people who are not vaccinated.

New ‘Deltacron’ Variant Is Rare and Similar to Omicron, Experts Say

Scientists have found a handful of cases of a new, hybrid variant in Europe and the United States. It’s unlikely to cause trouble, they say.

We regret to inform you that we are now discussing subvariants

There’s yet another twist in the pandemic: The omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, now has a “subvariant” that seems to spread more quickly than any other version of the coronavirus to date. The good news for now is that vaccines still appear to protect against it.

Whence And Whither Covid-19: The Many Faces Of Omicron

We know that new variants start small and multiply. They may begin almost anywhere, such as the UK, India, or South Africa, and spread globally, displacing all those that came before. The new wave may be intrinsically more lethal, as with Delta, or more contagious, as with Omicron. In this context, I observe the Omicron family of SARS-CoV-2 variants. I call it a family as all Omicron variants stem from an as yet undiscovered parent

You Don’t Have to Worry About Deltacron

Admittedly, I went through all five stages of grief when I first saw a reference to “deltacron,” a coronavirus variant. Another one? I thought, immediately thinking about all the friends I’m gonna have to cancel on. But wait and take a breath before you reach for your phone. “Deltacron,” or “deltamicron” if you like more syllables in your portmanteaus, might be appearing in the news, but so far it seems to be more bark than bite.