The sub-variant BA.2 of Omikron, which was detected by the Near East University in the TRNC, is spreading approximately 1,5 times faster!
The sub-variant BA.2 of Omikron, also called the “hidden” variant because of its mutations making identification difficult, was detected in the TRNC. The analysis results announced by the Near East University Genome Analysis Laboratory revealed that Omikron's dominance was 19 percent in COVID-87.2 cases seen in the TRNC in the first two weeks of February, while the prevalence of Omikron's sub-variant BA.2 was 12.5 percent. put it.
The raid variant is changing!
According to the results of the genome analysis announced by the Near East University; The currently spreading Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-19, which causes COVID-2, was detected for the first time in the TRNC on 17 December 2022 in a case from abroad. The dominance of the Omikron variant, which spread rapidly over the next two weeks, reached 55 percent by the end of December. In January 2022, it became the dominant variant with 95 percent.
Variant analyzes performed by Near East University on 829 patient samples showed that Omikron's sub-variant BA.2 started to spread in TRNC with seven cases. Considering that its sub-variant spreads 1,5 times faster than the main variant, Omikron BA.2 is expected to become the dominant variant in the TRNC in the coming weeks.
Genome science researchers at the Near East University Genome Analysis Laboratory Assoc. Dr. Mahmut Cerkez Ergoren, Dr. Gulten Tuncel, Dr. The studies carried out by Gökçe Akan and molecular biologist Melis Kalaycı will continue to follow the spread of the sub-variant of Omikron in the coming days.
prof. Dr. Tamer Sanlidag: “Analysis and data show that subvariant BA.2 spread approximately 1,5 times faster than the first version of Omicron.”
Saying that the sub-variant BA.2 of Omikron, which is currently the dominant variant in the TRNC, has begun to spread in the TRNC, Near East University Deputy Rector Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ said, “Analysis and data show that sub-variant BA.2 spreads approximately 1,5 times faster than the first version of Omikron. Therefore, we foresee that the dominance rate of the sub-variant, which was 12.5 percent in the first two weeks of February, will increase rapidly in the coming period and become the dominant variant.”
prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ added that the most distinctive features of the subvariant are the high rate of spread and the difficulty in identifying the mutations it has.
Assoc. Dr. Mahmut Cerkez Ergoren: “Our viral genome sequencing results for the Omicron BA.2 and Omikron BA.1 strains revealed that these strains carry significant genetic differences.”
Stating that the results of the sequencing analyzes they carried out confirmed for the first time that the sub-variant of Omikron, BA.2, started to spread in the TRNC, Assoc. Dr. Mahmut Çerkez Ergören said, “The results of our viral genome sequence analysis for the Omikron BA.2 and Omikron BA.1 strains revealed that these strains carry significant genetic differences. "These differences raise concerns that Omikron's sub-variant BA.2 may be more resistant to antibodies produced by vaccines."
Assoc. Dr. Mahmut Çerkez Ergören said, “We need more data to clarify this issue. With our strong team and well-equipped infrastructure, we will continue to monitor the sub-variant of Omikron in our Near East University diagnostic and research laboratories and share the results we have obtained with the public.”
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