Reinfections with Omicron subvariants are uncommon: research

In Denmark, a extra infectious sublineage of the Omicron coronavirus variant referred to as BA.2 has shortly dethroned the “unique” BA.1 variant, which is the commonest worldwide, however it has remained unclear whether or not an individual may get contaminated by each variants.

A brand new research, led by researchers at Denmark’s prime infectious illness authority, Statens Serum Institute (SSI), exhibits that folks contaminated with BA.1 can get contaminated with BA.2 shortly afterwards, however that it’s a uncommon incidence.

“We offer proof that Omicron BA.2 reinfections are uncommon however can happen comparatively shortly after a BA.1 an infection,” the research authors mentioned.

BA.1 and BA.2 differ by as much as 40 mutations. Whereas BA.2 accounts for greater than 88% of circumstances in Denmark, circumstances have began to extend in the UK, South Africa and Norway.

The reinfections largely affected younger, unvaccinated people and solely triggered delicate illness, none of which led to hospitalisations or deaths, the researchers added.

The research, which isn’t but peer-reviewed, discovered 1,739 circumstances registered between Nov 21, 2021, and Feb 11 this yr, the place individuals had examined constructive twice between 20 and 60 days aside.

In that interval greater than 1.8 million infections had been registered in Denmark.

From a smaller pattern group, the research discovered 47 situations of BA.2 reinfections shortly after a BA.1 an infection. The researchers additionally detected much less virus materials on the second an infection, suggesting some immunity was developed from the primary infections.