Newer iterations of the Omicron variant, BA.4 and BA.5 are spreading rapidly and causing the current Covid-19 surge, according to the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b).
The Omicron subvariant BA.2 emerged from the third week of January 2022, and circulated until the first week of April 2022 by replacing the BA.1 over time, icddr,b said in a report on Tuesday.
During the last six weeks (May 14 to June 24), Omicron BA.5 became the most predominant Covid-19 subvariant.
During this period, 51 out of 52 Covid-19 positive cases were identified as BA.5 subvariants and one BA.2 by using complete genome sequencing, the report states.
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As part of the countrywide Covid-19 testing network, icddr,b has been testing Covid-19 patients and monitoring SARS-CoV-2 variants. The first suspected Omicron subvariant BA.5 in Dhaka was detected on 19 May.
Overall, the severity of the disease caused by Omicron BA.5 subvariant among icddr,b study population is low.
However, the recent countrywide upsurge of Covid-19 cases as well as hospitalisation warrants the continuation of public health and social measures to minimise the transmission of the virus.
In light of this discovery, icddr,b requested people to get vaccinated, keep wearing masks, maintain physical distance and follow proper hygiene procedures.
