Scientists are closely monitoring a subvariant of the Omicron variant that is quietly spreading across the United States. The British newspaper "The Independent" reported that the BA.2 strain of Omicron is present in 30 U.S. states and accounts for about 3.9% of new infections. Scientists note that this strain is spreading rapidly, as indicated by data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Samuel Scarbino, director of the Pathogen Monitoring Center at the Rockefeller Foundation, stated, "If the strain doubles again and reaches 8%, it means we could be facing a new wave of COVID-19 in the United States." He added, "This is something we are concerned about." The BA.2 strain is believed to be more infectious and spreads faster compared to the original Omicron strain, which has led to a significant increase in COVID-19 cases in Denmark.
The two factors that may mitigate the spread of the new strain are vaccination rates and immunity from previous infections. Nathan, an assistant professor of epidemiology at the Yale School of Public Health, believes that the new strain will lead to an increase in infections, but he thinks it will not escalate into a widespread wave. He stated, "Many of us assumed it would take off quickly in the U.S., just as it has in Europe, and become the new dominant variant." Other scientists warn that removing masks will allow the new strain to spread more easily.
