Two stealth omicron COVID variant BA.2 cases reported in Washington state
It's unclear if the new omicron COVID subvariant is more or less transmissible and lethal than the original
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A new subvariant of omicron that differs from the original variant in some mutations, including on the spike protein, has been detected in Washington state.
"Two cases of BA.2, a subvariant of omicron, were detected earlier this month in Washington," a spokesperson for the Washington Department of Health told Fox News Digital on Monday.
The spokesperson said that health officials do not have much information on the new "stealth omicron" COVID subvariant, which has been reported in parts of Europe and Asia.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A member of the Salt Lake County Health Department COVID-19 testing staff performs a test on Chrissy Nichols outside the Salt Lake County Health Department Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2022, in Salt Lake City. ((AP Photo/Rick Bowmer) )
United Kingdom health authorities declared BA.2 a "variant under investigation" on Friday, saying that "there is still uncertainty around the significance of the changes to the viral genome."
Viruses mutate as they spread through a population, with some mutations impacting vaccine effectiveness, as well as the lethality and transmissibility of variants, according to the CDC.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The World Health Organization said Monday that BA.2 differs from the original omicron strain on the spike protein, emphasizing that the two subvariants should be studied independently to determine "immune escape properties and virulence."
A line of cars stretching several blocks wait to pull into an appointment-only COVID-19 testing center, Thursday, Jan. 6, 2022, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Two cases of BA.2 have also been detected in Houston, where Dr. Hana El Sahly dubbed it "stealth omicron" since it is harder to pick up on a PCR test, according to WOAI.
Omicron, which was first detected in South Africa in late November, has rapidly spread throughout the world and is now responsible for 99.5% of all new cases in the United States, according to CDC data.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Lurie Children's hospital registered nurse Carolyn Ruyle prepares a dose of a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at Lurie Children's hospital Friday, Nov. 5, 2021, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
While studies show that the new variant can more easily evade immunity offered by vaccines and prior infection, it is also associated with less severe disease.
The 7-day average for new cases throughout the United States was at 686,715 on Saturday, down from an all-time high of 789,960 on Jan. 15.