A new Omicron subvariant could take over NC. What to know about the BA.5 strain
A new coronavirus variant is on its way to becoming dominant in North Carolina.
As of June 25, BA.2.12.1 was the most common variant in the state, accounting for 39% of all sequenced COVID-19 cases, according to the most recent data available from the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.
But BA.5, another omicron subvariant, lagged just behind, making up 38% of all sequenced cases, NCDHHS data show.
BA.5 is already the dominant variant nationwide, as data from July 2 showed it accounted for nearly 54% of all COVID-19 cases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. BA.4 accounted for 16.5% of all cases.
Experts suggest BA.4 and BA.5 could quickly become the dominant variant in all parts of the country because of how rapidly they spread.
“They’re taking over, so clearly they’re more contagious than earlier variants of omicron,” David Montefiori, a professor at the Human Vaccine Institute, told NBC News.
Here’s what you need to know about BA.4 and BA.5.
Are BA.4 and BA.5 more contagious than other omicron variants?
Experts say BA.4 and BA.5 are more contagious than previous omicron variants, Paul Bieniasz, a professor at Rockefeller University who studies viral evolution, told TIME.
They can also bypass immunity from past infection, meaning those who already had omicron can be reinfected, Bieniasz said.
What are the symptoms of BA.4 and BA.5?
The symptoms of BA.4 and BA.5 are generally the same as earlier versions of omicron, Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease specialist at the University of California, San Francisco, told the New York Times.
People infected with either variant may experience a cough, runny nose, sore throat, fatigue, headaches and muscle pains, but they are less likely to lose their sense of taste or smell or develop shortness of breath, Chin-Hong head.
Will you need another booster shot?
A study published in July suggested BA.4 and BA.5 are four times more resistant to antibodies from vaccines than BA.2.
However, people who are up-to-date on their vaccines and booster shots, including those over 50 or who are immunocompromised, should be well-protected from BA.4 and BA.5, since they are effective in preventing serious illness and death, according to Montefiori.
Boosters from Pfizer and Moderna that will target specific omicron variants could be available by early to mid-fall, according to an FDA news release.
This story was originally published July 8, 2022 at 9:00 AM.
