Morocco Detects First Case of Highly Contagious Omicron BA.2 Sub-Variant

This sub-variant does indeed exist in Morocco, a source told Le Matin, specifying that it is more contagious than the Omicron strain. Concern is high in the ranks of scientists, who have mentioned the recent wave of contaminations that prompted the authorities to close the borders.

According to the WHO, Omicron represents more than 93% of all coronavirus specimens collected over the past month, with several sub-variants: BA.1, BA.1.1, BA.2 and BA.3.

BA.1 and BA.1.1, the first identified versions, still account for more than 96% of Omicron sequences downloaded into the global GISAID database. But there is a clear increase in the number of cases involving BA.2, which has several mutations different from the original version, particularly on the Spike protein marking the surface of the virus and which is essential for penetrating human cells.

"BA.2 sequences have been submitted to GISAID by 57 countries to date," the WHO stressed, according to which in some countries this sub-variant now accounts for more than half of the Omicron sequences collected.

The WHO stated that little is still known about the differences between the sub-variants and called for studies to be carried out on the characteristics of the virus, particularly on its transmissibility, its ability to escape immune protection and its virulence. Several recent studies have suggested that BA.2 is more contagious than the original Omicron.