The new variant of Omicron is more portable

The study was conducted in Denmark and showed a very high transmission rate
Modification

COPENHAGEN, Jan 31 (Reuters) – A Danish study found that the BA.2 variant of the Omicron coronavirus variant, which soon took hold in Denmark, is more transmissible than the more common BA.1 and more able to infect vaccinated people.

The study, which analyzed coronavirus infections in more than 8,500 Danish households between December and January, found that people with the BA.2 variant were 33% more likely to infect others, compared with those with BA.1.

Worldwide, the ‘original’ variant BA.1 accounts for more than 98% of Omicron cases, but its close cousin BA.2 soon became the dominant strain in Denmark, with BA.1 shedding in the second week of January.

“We concluded that Omicron BA.2 is inherently more transmissible than BA.1, and that it also has immunomodulatory properties that reduce the protective effect of vaccination against infection,” the study authors said.

The study, which has not yet been peer-reviewed, was conducted by researchers at the Serum Statins Institute (SSI), the University of Copenhagen, Statistics Denmark and the Technical University of Denmark.

“If you are exposed to Omicron BA.2 in your home, you have a 39% chance of infection within seven days. You have a 39% chance of infection within seven days,” he told Reuters.

He added that this indicates that BA.2 is 33% more infectious than BA.1.

2 cases of BA have also been reported in the United States, Great Britain, Sweden and Norway, but to a much lesser extent than in Denmark, where it accounts for about 82% of cases.

The study also showed that BA.2 was relatively better than BA.1 at infecting both vaccinated and vaccinated subjects with the booster vaccination, indicating greater “immunological properties” of the inhibitor.

The study confirmed that vaccines still play an important role, as the individuals who received the booster vaccination and who were fully vaccinated were less likely to be infected and transmit any secondary variable compared to the unvaccinated individuals.

Preliminary analysis by SSI showed that there was no difference in the risk of hospitalization for BA.2 compared to BA.1.

The study also confirms preliminary analysis for England, which showed that BA.2 appears to have a significant growth advantage over type BA.1, according to the UK Health Safety Agency.