Omicron's BQ.1 strain detected in India
The first case of the new Omicron BQ.1 sub-variant has been detected in India on Monday, in a patient sample from Pune.
Sub-variant BQ.1 is a descendant of Omicron's BA.5, which is currently the dominant version of SARS-CoV-2 in the US. BQ.1's detection in India comes just after BF.7 - another Omicron sub-variant which was picked up in Gujarat. BF.7 was first reported in China's Inner Mongolia region.
Rising infection from BQ.1 sub-variant
COVID infections from the BQ.1 strain have already started getting ahead of rival strains in countries like the UK, Germany and the US.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the BQ.1 as well as BQ.1.1 infections are currently 11% of the country's COVID cases. Less than a month ago, these were just 1% of the total cases.
According to scientists, both BQ.1 and BF.7 pack mutations that could make them good at being contagious and immunity evasion.
Why is the new sub-variant risky?
Top American physician-scientist and immunologist, Dr Anthony Fauci, in an interview with CBS News, said that the two descendants of Omicron’s BA.5 subvariant, called BQ.1 and BQ.1.1, have dangerous “qualities or characteristics that could evade some of the interventions we have".
"When you get variants like that, you look at what their rate of increase is as a relative proportion of the variants, and this has a pretty troublesome doubling time," Dr Fauci explained the danger.
Experts believe that variants like BQ.1 could even evade the immunity that people have built from prior infections or vaccination.
Scientists warn to remain vigilant
Dr Fauci advises that one should not declare victory from COVID-19 "too prematurely" and "keep our eye out on these emerging variants".
As per reports, a scientist from the National Institute of Virology (NIV) said, "These are all next-generation strains or offsprings of the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2. Since Omicron's emergence in January this year, we have not seen a completely new variant of the virus. However, these sub-variants, called sub-lineages, also have the potential to cause surges, so they should not be ignored.”
Symptoms to watch out for
Omicron sub variants have a shorter incubation period, which means that the symptoms may appear soon after contracting the virus. One of the worst Omicron symptoms is the sore throat, often characterized by scratchiness and a burning sensation. Other common Omicron-related symptoms include cough, fatigue, congestion and a runny or blocked nose.
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Currently dominant COVID-19 variant in India
Omicron's sub-variant BA.2 and its sub-lineages, mainly BA.2.75, continue to dominate most of the cases in India. As per reports, these account for over 80% of India's COVID caseload. BA.5 and its sub-lineages currently account for less than 5% of COVID cases in India.
Tips to protect yourself and your family from Omicron
Here are some important tips to follow to prevent getting infected:
-Wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth, especially in public places.
-Keep a physical distance of at least 1 metre from others. Avoid going to crowded places.
-Avoid poorly ventilated spaces.
-Open windows to improve ventilation indoors.
-Wash your hands regularly, especially before eating food.