Introducing the Omicron BA.5 Subvariant
Covid variants have flooded the American health scene in rapid succession. The Omicron BA.5 Subvariant is latest in the spotlight. As of late July, BA.5 took over North America, accounting for an estimated 81.9% of all Covid cases.1 What does this mean for the health of the American people?
This article will uncover the effects of the new variant, and what makes BA.5 different from previous versions of Omicron.
A Guide to what we know about Omicron
Since the onset of Covid 19, numerous Omicron variants have developed. In early July 2022 a strain called BA.5— the most contagious strain to date alongside BA.4—is the main Omicron variant, becoming the primary strain in the US. The BA.5 Omicron strain is generally milder than previous strains, keeping more patients from serious illness and death.
What is BA.5?
BA.5 is the newest subvariant of Covid-19. According to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), BA.5 is now causing over 80% of Covid-19 infections in the United States.2 BA.5 is fast spreading and immune evading.
How is the BA.5 subvariant of COVID-19 different?
BA.5 is different because of its immune evading nature. This is the most readily transmitted Covid variant to date.
BA.5 is shockingly good at evading immune protection from both vaccinations and previous infections of the virus.
