A subvariant of the omicron COVID-19 variant called BA.2 is causing an outbreak overseas. Now, some health experts worry it could also lead to an increase in COVID-19 cases in the U.S. Dr. Amesh Adalja, infectious disease specialist and senior scholar at Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, joins Cheddar News to discuss. 

Cheddar's News Wrap

New BA.2 Variant Predicted to Boost Covid Cases in U.S.

alright searching gears. B. A. To what is it? Well, it's a sub variant of omicron and it's causing an outbreak overseas. Now here's the thing. Some health officials, they think that it could cause an outbreak here too in the US. So joining me now to discuss is Dr Amish Aldo algebra, infectious disease specialist and senior scholar at john Hopkins Center for Health security doctor. What do we know so far about the B. A two variant? How big of an impact it's making right now. What we know is that the B. A two variant has been around since the beginning of omicron. It's a subtype of omicron. It appears to have more transmissibility than the other version of omicron. It has some unique mutations to it and it has been spreading especially in europe and over time it will overtake B. A. One which is the main version of omicron and become the dominant version. It doesn't appear to be more severe. And the same countermeasures we use the antivirals vaccines work similarly. But it will become something that will eventually be the version of COVID-19 that dominates whether or not it causes a major issue in the United States remains to be seen because we have to kind of separate what we're talking about in terms of cases going up, which is probably inevitable versus hospitals going into crisis, which I think we're pretty well fortified against with immunity in the population. Now, Hamish, what are the symptoms of the B. A. Two? Are they the same as? Oh, Macron yes, they're indistinguishable. So those same upper respiratory tract symptoms, sore throat, runny nose, fever, chills, muscle aches and pains. All the same things that were part of the other version of omicron will be the same with the A. Two scientists say the US is not doing enough to protect those that are I guess vulnerable to covid 19 right now, especially with the american surge that's going on overseas with B. A. To do you think that's accurate? And if and if not, what should be done to prevent the most vulnerable? If this again is spreading so rapidly, the best defense against B. A. Two is to be fully vaccinated. And if you're a high risk individual to be up to date with boosters and there may be a need for fourth doses and immuno compromised individuals. There's also a prophylactic monoclonal antibody called ever shelled. That's something that immuno compromised. People need to be getting we need to have access to antiviral so people can rapidly be tested and be linked to antiviral treatment. That's all going to be very important for the vulnerable populations for people who are fully vaccinated with no other medical problems. I don't think this poses a problem. But what we have to do is concentrate on those vulnerable populations using the tools that we now have to be able to minimize the brunt the B. A. Two has on the United States. So the CDC lately has been lighting up when it comes to mass recommendation. And also some places are dropping the need for vaccine mandates Do you think with the spread of B. A. To all of that progress will be reversed? No, I don't think all that progress will be reversed because B. A. Two is facing a population here in the United States it has a lot of immunity, immunity from vaccines, immunity from natural infection plus access to monoclonal antibodies and anti viral. So yes, we're going to see be a two cases increase and maybe overall cases will go up. They weren't gonna go down forever. This is going to be in a democrat laboratory virus but I don't think that we're going to see hospitals run into crisis again. I think what we increasingly have done is decoupled cases from hospitalizations because of immunity because of tools. So while it would be important to make sure that we're keeping up with B. A. To making sure people have access to treatments, I think that we're not going to see be A two cause the same problem that the other version of omicron cost and certainly not what delta or other versions of the virus have done because this is a different population now in 2022 with more tools more knowledge than in earlier eras of the pandemic. So how worried should we be about this new variant with the tools that we have in the knowledge that we know, how worried should we be? I don't think we should be worried in the sense that we're not going to see this be anything like what we saw in the past. But I think we still need to be vigilant alert. We still need to get our vaccination numbers up. We're still about 70% fully vaccinated. We have to make sure that people are able to test and and no to test and know that there are anti virals and monoclonal antibodies available and we always have to keep an eye on hospital capacity. But I think in general for most people this is not going to be a major issue because if you're fully vaccinated and you're healthy B. H two is going to be like other respiratory viruses. It's it's making sure the immuno compromised have access to boosters to monoclonal antibodies to antivirals and testing. That's going to be the key. So this is not a time to let our guard down correct and Perhaps skip on their second dose or 3rd dose of the shot. No, I think that we want to we want people to use all the tools that medicine has given us. Because when you think about what makes us resilient to COVID-19, it's going to be all the tools that science has delivered over the last two years. So we have to use those tools certainly that the reason why we've had this problem in the United States for so long is because we've got sub optimal vaccine uptake. We also have sub optimal use of the antivirals. We need people to use those tools so that we can actually put this behind us and not worry about whatever next variant appears. Alright Doctor Hamish, Adalja, infectious disease specialist and senior scholar at JOHn Hopkins Center for Health Security. Thank you so much for that doc.