'Stealth Omicron' COVID Variant Found In MA

Boston MA

03 February, 2022

8:18 AM

Description

A new omicron variant is already in Massachusetts, according to reports. BA.2 is thought to be even more transmissible than omicron and better at evading vaccines, but there is no evidence to suggest it's more severe — some research has even shown cases to be milder than the delta strain, which had once been the dominant strain in the world. The new variant has earned the nickname "stealth omicron" because it's hard to distinguish from the initial omicron strain. Dr. Jacob Lemieux, a doctor at Massachusetts General Hospital, told WBUR BA.2 cases will likely increase in the state after data at his hospital showed the variant had arrived. "So it looks like BA.2 may decelerate the drop-off in cases and may lead to some ongoing transmission," Lemieux told WBUR, "but it's probably not going to radically reshape the pandemic in the way that BA.1 did." A recent Danish study found transmission rates among the unvaccinated were higher compared to omicron, while fully vaccinated people were less likely to spread it to others. People who are boosted are even less likely to transmit it. Most U.S. states have confirmed BA.2, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said still make up a very low number of cases in the country. A top infectious disease doctor told The New York Times "stealth omicron" may not spark another spike in cases, but may drag out the current one even longer.