Experts tracking Omicron variant which may spread faster but shows no ‘dramatic’ difference in severity

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Scientists are tracking a second type of Omicron that may be spreading faster.

However one virologist says early observations suggest there is no "dramatic difference" in severity compared to Omicron.

Dr Tom Peacock, a virologist at Imperial College London, says that there is evidence that the new type of Omicron - known to scientists as BA.2 - is growing in the UK, Denmark and Germany compared to the Omicron variant known as BA.1, Wales Online reports.

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In a Twitter thread he said the growth across multiple countries may mean it is “some degree more transmissible than BA.1”.

"Unfortunately this is really where the evidence mostly ends,” he tweeted.

“We do not currently have a strong handle on antigenicity, severity or a much evidence for how much more transmissibility BA.2 might have over BA.1 - however we can make some guesses/early observations.”

“*Very* early observations from India and Denmark suggest there is no dramatic difference in severity compared to BA.1.

“This data should become more solid (one way or another) in the coming weeks.”

He added that he would agree with other scientists that “there is likely to be minimal differences in vaccine effectiveness against BA.1 and BA.2”.

Writing on Twitter, he said: "So how worried should we be? Those working in sequencing/surveillance should definitely be keeping a close eye on BA.2 (and very likely already are!).

"Personally, I'm not sure BA.2 is going to have a substantial impact on the current Omicron wave of the pandemic. Several countries are near, or even past the peak of BA.1 waves. I would be very surprised if BA.2 caused a second wave at this point.

"Even