UK Designates Omicron Subvariants BA.4 and BA.5 as 'Variants of Concern'

BA.4 and BA.5 First Detected in Early April in South Africa
UK Confirms 115 BA.4 Cases and 80 BA.5 Cases So Far

Citizens lining up at the vaccination center in Wembley Stadium, UK, last December [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Nayeon] The British daily The Guardian reported on the 20th (local time) that the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has designated the COVID-19 Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5 as "variants of concern."

BA.4 and BA.5 were first identified in early April in South Africa. They are reported to be more transmissible than BA.2 (Stealth Omicron), which has become the dominant strain worldwide.

According to the latest COVID-19 statistics announced by the UK on the 19th (local time), BA.2 remains the dominant strain locally, but since BA.4 and BA.5 are driving the fifth wave in South Africa and have already spread to countries around the world, they have been designated as variants of concern to proactively review risk factors such as transmissibility and fatality rates.

In the UK, 115 cases of BA.4 infection and 80 cases of BA.5 infection have been confirmed so far.

According to The Guardian, health authorities predicted in their report that the two variants are spreading faster than BA.2 and are expected to compete with BA.2 for dominance in the future.

There have been no reports so far that BA.4 and BA.5 increase the risk of severe hospitalization or death among infected individuals.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) also stated last week, "Although data is limited, BA.4 and BA.5 do not appear to increase severity compared to BA.1 and BA.2, which are in the same Omicron lineage," adding, "However, if the number of patients surges, hospital and intensive care unit admissions are likely to increase."