We’ve seen a decline in BA.5 cases over the past few weeks as the
proportion of COVID-19 cases caused by two of its offshoots, subvariants BQ.1
and BQ1.1, sharply increased.
The CDC estimates that
immunity-evading BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 now account for 14 and 13.1 percent of the
nation’s COVID-19 cases. That's up from 9.4 and 7.2 percent in estimates
released the week before.
The two potentially threatening Omicron subvariants are now the second and
third most dominant, surpassing BA.4, according to recent data from
the CDC.
Scientists and health officials are closely monitoring several Omicron
subvariants, especially BQ.1.1, as it appears to elude monoclonal antibody treatments,
my colleague Martin Finucane
reported. Another subvariant, XBB, caused a spike in cases in
Singapore but so far remains rare in the US.
The good news is that there is no
epidemiological evidence that BQ.1 and its descendants “will be
of substantially greater risk compared to other Omicron sublineages,” the WHO’s
Technical Advisory Group on SARS-CoV-2 Virus Evolution reported.
Have more questions? Here’s
everything you need to know. And if haven't yet, get boosted.
Other
top stories
- The Globe’s Ryan Cross reported
that a Cambridge biotech company announced it raised $27 million in
funding for clinical trials to develop a
flu vaccine skin patch. The company, Vaxess, said results
from a 45-person study are expected by the end of the year.
- Grassroots organizations are
critical in helping to close health literacy gaps among immigrant
communities, according to a new report.
Cambridge biotech Moderna has seen sales of its COVID-19 vaccines drop this year. Third quarter revenue was down 32 percent from the same period last year as demand for the shots has waned.
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