Two cases of subvariant BQ.1 of the Ômicron lineage of the coronavirus, were confirmed in the city of São Paulo.
The genetic sequencing tests were carried out by the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), according to the São Paulo State Health Department.
According to the secretary, the cases are under epidemiological investigation by municipal and state surveillance.
Preliminary data indicate that the infected are a 72-year-old woman and a man with no identified age, according to the Municipal Health Department.
About BQ.1
BQ.1 is a substrain of BA.5, from Omicron, which carries mutations at important points in the virus. From the week of October 3 to 9, of the sequences submitted to the international Gisaid database, BQ.1 has a prevalence of 6% and has been detected in 65 countries, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Although there are no data on severity or immune escape from human studies, BQ.1 is showing a significant growth advantage over other circulating Omicron substrains in many locations, including Europe and the United States.
According to the WHO, it is likely that these additional mutations conferred an immune escape advantage over other circulating sublines of Omicron, which indicates the need for further assessment of a greater risk of reinfection by the disease.
To date, there are no epidemiological data that suggest an increase in the severity of the disease. The impact of the immunological changes observed on vaccine escape has not yet been established.
Based on currently available knowledge, vaccine protection against infection may be reduced, but no major impact on protection against serious illness is anticipated.
Source: CNN Brasil
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