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SALT LAKE CITY — The omicron variant is the strain of COVID-19 causing the current surge in new cases and hospitalizations in Utah. But, a sub-variant of omicron, the so-called "stealth variant," is also starting to spread across the state.
BA.2, also known as the stealth variant, was first identified in Utah on Jan. 12, according to the Utah Department Of Health.
Evidence from Europe suggests it may not be more severe than omicron, but it is more transmissible.
"It does not look any more severe," said Dr. Todd Vento, an infectious diseases physician at Intermountain Healthcare.
Like other doctors around the world, Vento is still learning about BA.2, a sub-variant of the omicron variant, which is BA.1. The infectious diseases physician says Denmark now estimates more than 80% of its cases are BA.2. The severity of the strain, so far, is not impacting one age group more than another.
"And, they don't see higher hospitalizations compared to what they had with omicron, or the BA.1," Vento said. "In fact, the number of cases has gone up, but their number of ICU hospitalizations have been going down."
Early data from Denmark indicates BA.2 spreads 33% faster than BA.1.
"We don't know if BA.2 is less severe than BA.1. We don't see it being either right now. It looks very similar, but it's too early to make a final judgment on that," Vento said.
Five cases of BA.2 have been sequenced in Utah.
"I don't think you're going to see that huge increase and spike in cases that we saw with BA.1, the original omicron variant. But, you might see us kind of have this prolonged tail as we come down off of the peak, if you will, of our cases," said Kelly Oakeson, chief scientist for next generation sequencing and bioinformatics at the Utah Department Of Health.
Oakeson said our COVID-19 tests will detect the stealth variant, and the vaccines should provide protection against severe illness. He recommends getting boosted and masking up in public for the best personal protection and the good of the community.
"If we stop the spread, we stop variants. We stop spikes in cases. We stop those spikes in hospitalizations and deaths, and hopefully, bring this thing down to a non-pandemic, bring this down to something that's more manageable," Oakeson said.
Both experts said our community needs to better slow the spread of the virus, or we will continue to deal with dangerous variants.
