What is known about BA.4 and BA.5?

Covid-19 comes across people with new genetic codes called variants.

A variant of Omicron. BA.4 v BA.5 are Omicron-linked subvariants.

These variants first appeared in South Africa at the beginning of the year and are now spreading in many countries.

The World Health Organization first started monitoring BA.4 and BA.5 in April.

In some countries, these variants have begun to dominate other types of Covid.

For example, in Portugal, the BA.5 variant is dominant.

In England, the influence of BA.4 and BA.5 is constantly increasing.

There are not enough scientific studies yet on how harmful these sub-variants are compared to other variants.

Speaking to BBC Turkish, Public Health Specialist, Uludag University Faculty of Medicine Lecturer Prof. Dr. Kayihan Pala; He states that although there are not enough scientific studies on these variants yet, they spread rapidly:

“First, these variants are more likely to avoid being vaccinated. Second, they are more likely to avoid acquiring antibodies by passing on the disease.

“As such, we come across a conclusion that the transmission of the disease occurs more rapidly due to these new variants. We can easily follow this, especially over the UK. It can be said that we are facing a sixth wave globally, as the world cannot prevent these alarming variants.”