Canada has detected BA.2 cases. What we know about this Omicron subvariant

The BA.2 sub-lineage appears to be more contagious than the original Omicron variant and is harder to detect in a PCR test, experts say.

With signs of the COVID-19 Omicron wave having peaked in parts of the world, including Canada, scientists are keeping a close eye on a subvariant that is rapidly spreading in some countries.

The BA.2 sub-lineage of Omicron, which was first detected in November last year, was designated as a variant under investigation by the U.K. Health Security Agency (UKHSA) on Friday.

More than 10,000 cases have been reported in 47 countries, according to data by cov-lineages.org. So far, 51 cases of the BA.2 variant have been detected in Canada mainly from international travellers, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) confirmed to Global News on Tuesday.

“The virus is multiplying so much now globally that a new variant will pop up, and there are already subvariants related to the Omicron (variant),” said Dr. Horacio Bach, an infectious diseases expert at the University of British Columbia.

The Omicron variant of concern, B.1.1.529, has four sub-lineages: BA.1, BA.1.1, BA.2 and BA.3.

BA.1 accounts for the vast majority of the Omicron cases to date globally, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

All viruses mutate and have subvariants that have a different genetic makeup than the original variant but have a common origin, said Levon Abrahamyan, a virologist at the University of Montreal.

Here is what we know so far about the BA.2 subvariant.