The sub-mutant of Omicron is sweeping 57 countries around the world, and the WHO alerts

Weather of Arabia - The World Health Organization announced, on Tuesday, that the sub-mutant from Omicron, which studies indicate is the fastest spreading, was monitored in 57 countries, in addition to the fact that the Omicron mutant from the Corona virus has become a tyrant all over the world since it was first discovered in southern Africa 10 weeks ago.

In the weekly epidemiological update, the World Health Organization said that the mutant, which constitutes more than 93% of all samples of the Corona virus that were collected last month, is divided into several strains: (BA1), (BA1.1) and (BA2), which scientists have dubbed “ Omicron invisibility" and (BA3).

She added that BA1 and BA1.1, the first two versions identified, made up 96 percent of all Omicron strains uploaded to the Global Influenza Data Exchange Initiative's database.

But there was a clear rise in infections related to the BA2 strain that had undergone several mutations different from the original, including a spike protein on the surface of the virus that plays a key role in the virus entering human cells.

The World Health Organization revealed that "strains identified as (BA2) have been submitted to the Global Influenza Data Sharing Initiative from 57 countries so far ," adding that in some countries the sub-mutant makes up more than half of the omicron strains collected.

The United Nations organization indicated that so far little is known about the differences between the sub-mutants, and called for studies to be carried out on their properties, including their susceptibility to spread and their ability to evade the immune system.

Recent studies have found that (BA2) spreads faster than the original omicron mutant.

Maria Van Kerkhove, chief Covid expert at the World Health Organization, told reporters, Tuesday, that information about the sub-mutant is very limited, but some preliminary data indicate that (BA2) has a "slight increase in the growth rate compared to (BA1)."

In general, Omicron causes less severe disease than previous mutations of the Corona virus, such as Delta, and Van Kerkhove pointed out that there is no indication yet that there is a change in the severity of the disease in the sub-mutant (BA2).

She stressed that regardless of the strain, Covid remains a serious disease and people should strive to avoid contracting it.

"We want people to be aware that this virus continues to spread and evolve," she said, adding: "It is really important that we take measures to reduce our exposure to this virus, regardless of which mutation is spreading."

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