A new variant of the corona virus is worrying experts. Now BA.2.75, also known unofficially as “Centaurus”, is spreading to us as well.
New corona variants are being discovered all over the world, most recently Omicron. It is still considered the dominant variant in this country. But health experts have been certain for months that a new corona wave will be heading for Austria in autumn. The first cases of the new BA.2.75 variant known as “Centaurus” have now been reported in Salzburg.
More >> New Omicron Variant BA.2.75 – Top Expert Concerned
Contagious and willing to change
While there is still very little information on this subvariant of the omicron virus, studies to date suggest that it is again much more contagious and has worrying mutations. “Even before we’re done with the BA.5 wave, we may have to prepare for the next one,” the molecular biologist tweeted Ulrich Elling from the Austrian Academy of Sciences.
According to a Dutch study, these eleven mutations should ensure that the virus should be able to bypass the immunity built up by vaccination or previous Covid 19 infection and thus trigger a new wave of infections. An infection with BA.5 should therefore hardly protect against infection with “Centaurus”.
Cases discovered weeks ago
As the Munich science initiative GISAID is now showing, the variant was already detected in two cases in Salzburg at the end of June – the variant could therefore have spread further. The Agency for Health and Food Safety AGES has not yet confirmed the cases of infection.
The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has classified “Centaurus” as a “variant under observation” since the beginning of July. This means it could be more contagious and is associated with more severe disease. However, the evidence for this is weak or has not yet been established.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Robert Koch Institute have not yet commented on the new corona variant.