Omicron subvariant BA.5 still dominant in Hawaii, but newer mutations gaining ground

The newest variant report from the state Division of Well being exhibits rising new subvariants are gaining floor within the state, just like nationwide developments.

Omicron subvariant BA.5, which the brand new bivalent boosters goal, stays dominant, making up 88% of latest COVID-19 instances in Hawaii for the two-week interval ending Sept. 24, in contrast with 91% within the earlier reporting interval. New omicron subvariants, corresponding to BA.4.6 and BF.7, in the meantime, are rising in proportion, and represented 7% and three%, respectively, of variants circulating within the state.

Subvariant BF.7, a descendant of BA.5, has been flagged as a variant of concern by the UK Well being Safety Company, attributable to rising instances in Europe.

“Happily, each BA.4.6 and BF.7 are offshoots of omicron and the brand new bivalent boosters present elevated safety in opposition to them,” DOH spokesperson Brooks Baehr mentioned in an announcement.

Others detected and listed within the report that epidemiologists are watching with concern embody extra immune- evasive subvariants corresponding to BA.2.75.2, a descendant of BA.2.75, together with BQ.1, a sub­lineage of BA.5.

One research referred to as BA.2.75.2 “essentially the most neutralisation resistant variant evaluated to this point.” One other report discovered BA.2.75.2 to have “profound immune escape” and resistance to therapies corresponding to Evusheld and Sotrovimab monoclonal antibodies, in addition to vital development benefit in the US.

DOH confirmed Friday that omicron subvariants BA.2.75.2 and BQ.1 have been detected for the primary time in Hawaii.

“Whereas BA.2.75.2 and BQ.1 are additionally subvariants within the omicron lineage, they’ve mutations that counsel an elevated skill to flee immunity from vaccination and former an infection,” mentioned Baehr. “DOH is carefully monitoring these subvariants.”

The U.S. Meals and Drug Administration earlier this month up to date its truth sheet for Evusheld to warn customers of the elevated threat of creating COVID-19 when uncovered to variants not neutralized by the therapy used to assist defend immunocompromised individuals.

Subvariant BQ.1 and BQ.1.1, each offshoots of BA.5, in the meantime, are spreading rapidly in Europe and rising in proportion within the U.S.

The Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention lately listed BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 individually in its Nowcast mannequin. The 2 subvariants collectively now make up 11.4% of latest COVID-19 instances within the U.S.

The brand new subvariants of concern proceed to edge out BA.5, which now makes up solely about 68% of variants circulating throughout the nation.

Along with BQ.1 and BQ.1.1, subvariant BA.4.6 makes up about 12%, whereas BF.7 makes up about 5% and subvariant BA.2.75.2 about 1.4%.

The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg Faculty of Public Well being mentioned adjustments within the viral spike protein of BQ.1.1 make it tougher for antibodies from vaccination or earlier an infection to neutralize it. This, in flip, makes it harder to deal with energetic COVID-19 infections with monoclonal antibodies.

“That mentioned, there isn’t proof but that BQ.1.1 might be wherever as devastating as omicron was when it first emerged final 12 months,” the Bloomberg Faculty of Public Well being acknowledged in its weekly e-newsletter. “Many extra individuals have not less than some immunity to COVID from both an infection or vaccination, and most locations are seeing a decline or flattening in hospitalizations and deaths — developments specialists are hopeful will proceed.” The excellent news, the varsity added, is that the bivalent boosters supply some extent of safety.