Centaurus is the nickname of a new coronavirus subvariant that has been detected in around 10 countries, including the UK.
Cases of Omicron BA.2.75 have risen steeply since it was first identified in India in May. Virologists have expressed concern over its number of mutations relative to BA.2, from which the strain is likely to have evolved.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) designated it a “variant under monitoring” on July 7 but has yet to gather enough evidence to draw conclusions on transmissibility, immunity or severity. The World Health Organization said it is also monitoring the subvariant closely.
