What is BQ1.1.? An emerging and worrisome COVID-19 variant to keep an eye on - Yahoo! Voices

As Canadians are urged to person their COVID-19 and influenza vaccines, galore wonderment erstwhile the pandemic volition end.

As the colder upwind sets in, COVID-19 cases are rising successful hospitals astir the country. However, arsenic COVID-19 continues to splinter, a caller variant is connected the skyline that deserves acknowledgment: the BQ.1.1 variant.

A elaborate look astatine the COVID-19 BQ.1.1 variant

Different COVID-19 variants person reigned ultimate astatine assorted points during the pandemic. In the early-to-mid summer, the contagious BA.5 COVID-19 subvariant rolled implicit Canada and different parts of the world. Now, conscionable a fewer months aft BA.5 subsided, epidemiologists successful the United Kingdom are informing of the BQ1.1 subvariant arsenic the adjacent mentation to watch.

How is BQ.1.1 antithetic from erstwhile variants?

In the U.S., BQ.1.1 infections are doubling each week. So far, this complaint of dispersed is treble the velocity of different starring subvariants. For example, the caller BQ.1.1 spreads doubly arsenic accelerated arsenic BA.2.75.2.

BQ.1.1 is simply a subvariant of the Omicron variant BA.5. The precocious updated booster shots should assistance support against the subvariant.

BQ.1.1 is highly contagious

Some COVID-19 variants are much contagious than others. Currently, the most contagious COVID-19 variant is the strain named BA.5.

BQ.1.1 is spreading crossed North America on with different contagious Omicron variants. Currently, the subvariants BQ.1.1 and BQ.1 are liable for implicit 11 per cent of new infections successful the U.S., portion B.A.5 comprises 70 per cent.

BQ.1.1 is resistant to definite antibody therapies

While the contagion levels of caller subvariants springiness intermission for concern, an adjacent much worrisome facet is BQ.1.1's absorption to our earthy antibodies and definite antibody therapies. Experts noted earlier successful the twelvemonth that definite BA.5 subvariants could elude the antibodies radical person built up via erstwhile infections and vaccinations.

Reports amusement that BQ.1.1 whitethorn beryllium the archetypal subvariant to wholly defy antibody therapies, similar Evusheld and Bebtelovimab.

What is our vaccine efficacy with BQ.1.1?

Vaccine efficacy refers to however effectual vaccines are astatine protecting the vaccinated population. It is inactive excessively aboriginal to definitively authorities vaccine efficacy against BQ.1.1. However, it is earning a estimation arsenic one of the astir immune-evasive COVID-19 variants to arise.

Without capable antibodies and vaccine solutions, the combat against COVID-19's perpetually mutating subvariants would crook grim. Luckily, the newest "bivalent" messenger-RNA boosters are inactive proving effectual against the virus.

What are the symptoms of BQ.1.1?

Currently, the symptoms to ticker retired for are the aforesaid symptoms connected to different Omicron-related subvariants. Omicron subvariants tin person a shorter incubation clip and quicker onset of symptoms than different COVID-19 variants. The worst grounds is feeling similar your throat is connected fire.

The astir communal symptoms associated with BQ.1.1 and different Omicron subvariants include:

• Congestion

• Coughing

• Runny nose

• Fatigue

What to bash if you declaration BQ.1.1

If you judge you whitethorn person contracted the caller B.Q.1.1 subvariant oregon immoderate assortment of COVID-19, instrumentality a accelerated trial and isolate for 5 days. As we caput into the colder months, seasonal allergies, influenza, and the communal acold volition besides go much common. Many of these stock symptoms with subvariant BQ.1.1, and keeping a COVID-19 location investigating kit connected manus tin assistance you differentiate betwixt COVID-19 and different seasonal illness.