NEW DELHI : Health exports have claimed that the latest variant of coronavirus that is dominant in the US seems to be the deadliest best as it combines properties of both omicron and delta.
Scientists have said that this variant belongs to the Omicron family, but this spreads faster than its omicron predecessors, is adept at escaping immunity and might possibly cause more serious disease.
The omicron “subvariant" gaining ground in the US — known as BA.2.12.1 and responsible for 58% of US Covid-19 cases last week — isn't the only one affected by the delta mutation.
The genetic change is also present in the omicron relatives that together dominate in South Africa, known as BA.4 and BA.5. Those have exactly the same mutation as delta, while BA.2.12.1 has one that's nearly identical.