The BQ.1.1 sub-variant is currently taking precedence over BA.5 “worldwide” explained immunologist Brigitte Autran on BFMTV.
The current rise of the Covid-19 epidemic is a “beginning of a wave” even if “we are not yet in a very significant phase of ascent”, explains this Wednesday on BFMTV the immunologist Brigitte Autran, president of the Committee for monitoring and anticipating health risks (Covars).
“The trend is not good, the trend is up”, in particular because of the push of a sub-variant of Covid-19, she declares.
The Omicron sub-lineage called BA.5, which is largely in the majority in France “has already been replaced, swept away by the BQ.1.1 sub-variant, which is the baby of BA.5”, she explains. “It’s a variant that is more contagious and explains the current surge in the epidemic.”
“We don’t know yet if he is meaner”
In its last point, dated November 24, Sante Publique France indeed underlines that “among the sub-lineages of BA.5, BQ.1.1 continues to increase” and represented 39% of the sequences analyzed in mid-November, against 29% the last week of October.
Brigitte Autran ensures that the growth of this sub-variant is observed “all over the world”, it is “also what is raging in China at the moment, and it is a variant of which we do not yet know if it is meaner”, more virulent in infected people.
This sub-variant “is probably almost identical to BA.5 for its characteristic of causing serious forms, but it is more contagious. This is the reason why it is absolutely necessary to protect yourself, you must get vaccinated”, supports Brigitte Autran.
She calls on the population eligible for the vaccine to receive an injection, recalling that “vaccines guarantee protection against severe forms of Covid and against death.” The immunologist also supports the need to respect barrier measures, and calls for the return of the mask, at least in public transport, places of great promiscuity and therefore of potential contamination.
Source: BFM TV
