OUR VA.2.75 performed strongly in India – where 2/3 of the new cases are associated with infection with this new variant – back in May last year. In the rest of the world, a new version of the familiar omicron mutation, which is called “Centaur”, gave the “real” in 20 countries.

For now, that’s all European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), as well as World Health Organization (WHO), please note that the situation is under close observation that the variant is characterized at this stage”change of interestand that more evidence is needed to assess its severity.

“The option of interest is still there, but I personally believe that an accusation will be made soon, and it will become alarming,” says K. Demosthenes Sarigiannis, professor of environmental engineering at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, and explains the reason for this statement: “The reason why Greece will prevail is that there are currently too many tourists in the country, many of whom come from places where BA . 2.75 is already visible. I’m talking about England, Germany, Canada, USA, etc. This sub-variant has not yet been sequenced in our country, but in my opinion such intense mobility in Greece makes its identification a matter of time.”

“Superiority” BA.2.75 over Omicron 5

As Mr. Sarigiannis continues to explain, the Centaur option creates competitive conditions with him Omicron 5, since they have similar characteristics, with the difference that BA. 2.75 has an even faster transmission.

“We are talking about 18.5% faster transmission than Omicron 5“says the AUTH professor and adds, “So the big question now is: how long can he avoid Omicron 5’s immunity? In general, BA. 2.75 is a variant of Omicron 2. Omicron 5 is immune to Omicron 2, but 2.75 has 9 different mutations in the spike. Are these mutations strong enough to avoid Omicron 5’s immunity, which, as I said, outmaneuvered 2?

“The answer is that we don’t know yet. However, one study – and this is a qualitative study – shows that 2.75 ultimately outperforms 5 in terms of immunity evasion. As you understand, this further increases the likelihood of re-infection.“.

If, according to Mr. Sarigiannis, BA.2.75 has already begun to open the doors for its appearance in our country in one way or another, then in 1-1.5 months it will reach “tangible” development.

If this scenario develops as the professor describes, then by mid-October … “ba. 2.75 will go to 7 pandemic wave in Greece“.

As for the question of whether the new vaccines coming in the winter for Omicron 4 and 5 will cover it, Mr. Sarigiannis suggests they will “pick up” the sub-option as it also belongs to the Omicron family.

“Essentially, these vaccines will make the disease even milder than existing ones, it’s not about eliminating transmission,” he concludes.

“The pandemic continues to work faster than science”

What is certain is that the landscape around this new option is currently fluid, while neither a common scientific line exists for “Centaur“.

“What this will ultimately bring is highly debatable,” says a professor of pulmonology at the University of Crete. Nikos Tsanakis and adds: “If it were in Greece, it would have already been sequenced in one of the two specialized centers in the country. This is reassuring. Personally, I have a feeling that Centaur will lead the next wave of the pandemic this October. That’s when she will show her dynamics. There is a possibility that this will not give a big wave due to the fact that we have already built a very important natural and artificial immunity.”

At this point, Mr. Tzanakis poses the same question as Mr. Sarigiannis: “The point is to see how much it eludes Omicron 5, but also, of course, to find out its pathogenicity and pathogenicity. It’s good that the new variant remains in the Omicron family, we haven’t taken it to the next level and it gives us the feeling that, pathologically speaking, it won’t be malignant.. Of course, this may give a few more symptoms, as we hear from our foreign colleagues. Somewhat more symptoms than Omicron 5, i.e. higher fever and more severe headache.”

However, given that many citizens have already been ill 4-5 months ago with Omicron 4 or 5, when BA.2.75 is likely to appear, there are not a few who will become potential “victims” reinfection with the specified option, which brings us to 7 pandemic wave.

“As we have seen in practice, every 6 months the coronavirus shows a new mutation,” says Mr. Tzanakis, adding: “We had Omicron 5 in April-May last year, so if the coronavirus continues to follow the same pattern, it is very it is likely that in October we will have the next mutation. With regard to new vaccines, my impression is that BA.2.75 he will elude them as much as he can elude Omicron 5. Of course, this may not happen, since Centaurus is also owned by the Omicron team. It will be seen on the field when the time comes. However, Centaurus will catch up with the new vaccines in time. We are still two gears lower than the coronavirus is running.“.

However, as noted in a recent article by an experienced infectious disease specialist Nature: “Even if hospitalization and death rates remain low in the wave that the Centaur or any other new mutation could cause, the high frequency of waves of infection means much longer cases of covid and a general disruption of the health system due to complications. It is important to reduce the amount of infection. After all, this is a problem at this stage of the pandemic.“.