A new variant of Omicron has been detected as the winter flu season gets underway, and although the public needs to be vigilant, there is no immediate cause for concern.
That’s according to a Belfast-based virologist, Connor Bamford, who said there is a need for some concern with the latest BQ1 strain, and any more that will arise over the coming months and years.
“I think we do need to be a little bit concerned about this,” he told the Belfast Telegraph.
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“We are continuously seeing different variants, new variants, arising that are still able to spread and get around our immunity a little bit and we will keep seeing more of these waves occurring.”
The BQ1 variant of omicron, which was reported in recent days and has been detected in 50 countries, has some fearing that it could pose a big challenge for people who are immunocompromised.
It is understood that the treatments designed to prevent and treat infection in the immunocompromised won’t work against BQ1.
Symptoms of BQ1 are similar to other Covid-19 variants and include fever, cough, exhaustion, congestion, sore throat, nausea, diarrhea, and headaches.
Further information about the variant is not known, but the severity and life of the disease seem similar to the other omicron strains at this point - and is milder than the original and delta variants.
Mr. Bamford went on to say our best protection against the worst effects of the virus are the available vaccines as he said they “are holding up pretty well and we have these boosters too.
“So they are really helpful in stopping people getting really sick, even when we’re going to see these new variants arising in the future.
“So it is something to be concerned about — but not to be too alarmed about.”
BQ1 is among the more than 300 sublineages of the omicron variant currently circulating globally - most of which are direct descendants of BA5, according to the World Health Organization.
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