The Strongest Immune Evasion... Will 'BA.2.75.2' Spread in Winter?

Reported in 47 Countries Worldwide and 39 States in the United States

The emergence of 'BA.2.75.2', which has the strongest immune evasion capability, is raising concerns about a resurgence in winter. The photo is not related to the specific content of the article. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoon Seul-gi] Concerns about a resurgence in the winter season are growing with the emergence of the new Omicron variant 'BA.2.75.2'.

Recently, the international scientific journal Science analyzed that the new Omicron variant BA.2.75.2 is rapidly spreading in India, Singapore, Europe, and other regions. BA.2.75.2 was first detected last month and is derived from the so-called 'Centaurus' variant BA.2.75.

Currently, cases infected with BA.2.75.2 account for about 0.5% of all COVID-19 infections. According to the UK magazine Time, BA.2.75.2 has been reported in 47 countries worldwide and 39 states in the United States.

The problem is that this variant has the strongest immune evasion ability among COVID-19 variants so far, potentially neutralizing vaccines and antiviral drugs. It is already spreading rapidly in India.

BA.2.75.2 appears to be more powerful with three additional mutations on top of BA.2.75, which already had high immune evasion. Two of these mutations occurred in the region that binds to human cells.

According to a paper released on June 16 by Swedish researchers on the biology preprint site bioRxiv, BA.2.75.2 neutralized all 13 monoclonal antibodies currently in use or development except for bebtelovimab. In experiments testing how well the serum of 18 confirmed patients neutralized Omicron variants, the neutralization rate against BA.2.75.2 was about one-sixth that of BA.5. This means it has higher immune evasion than the previously prevalent BA.5.

Experts analyzed that since BA.2.75.2 shows the highest immune evasion, it could influence a resurgence in the winter season. Daniel Sward, a researcher at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, said, "Like when the Omicron variant first appeared last winter, many infections caused by BA.2.75.2 are expected in the coming months."