The sub-variant BA.5 asserts itself as the prevailing Omicron on the Planet, according to the latest weekly Covid report from the World Health Organization. While the Omicron family continues to dominate, accounting for 92% of the sequences loaded on the Gisaid platform from 1 to 30 June – reports the WHO – among the Omicron lineages the shares of Omicron 5 and also of Omicron 4 (BA. 4). The first was detected in 83 countries and in the week from 19 to 25 June, compared to the previous one, it increased from 37% to about 52%. Omicron BA.4 remains slower, detected in 73 countries and passed from 11% to about 12%. The decline of the former dominant sub-variant Omicron 2 (BA.2) therefore continues, from 16% to 9%. BA.2.12.1 is also down, from 19% to 11%.
WHO confirms that “there is still no evidence for a change in disease severity caused by Omicron 4, 5 and BA.2.12.1 compared to that related to Omicron 2“. However, he points out that” the increase in their prevalence coincided with an increase in cases in several regions. And in some countries, the increase in infections has also caused an increase in hospitalizations, intensive care admissions and deaths“. The UN health agency however points out that,” in countries where Omicron 4, 5 and BA.2.12.1 are now down, the increase in cases, hospitalizations, ICU admissions and deaths is lower status than that recorded in previous Omicron waves 1 and 2. Differences likely influenced by a number of factors “, including” vaccination coverage “.