New Covid variant could cause surge

Virologists are worried by the emergence of a quickly mutating Omicron variant BA.2.75, known as Centaurus, already spreading faster than the highly transmissible BA.5, which now makes up over 50% of cases


28-DAY CASES AND DEATHS (Jun 16-Jul 14)

U.S. 	3,189,105 	10,758 deaths
France 	2,706,111 	1,468
Germany 2,363,678 	2,185
Italy 	2,042,215 	1,943
Brazil 	1,465,010 	5,789 
Taiwan 	1,089,858	3,283 
Australia 929,046 	1,297
Japan 	821,962 	536 
UK 	642,038 	2,184 
Spain 	517,714		1,735

Spike protein


VARIANTS OF CONCERN	2020 Detected	0 Genetic mutations

Alpha 		Beta		Gamma		Delta		Omicron
Sep 2020 	Oct 2020	Nov 2020 	Oct 2020	Nov 2021
11 		10 		12 		10 		60 	

Each variant has mutations in spike protein with which it binds to receptor on human cell

L425R mutation enabled rapid spread of Delta and Omicron
      
Receptor
Human cell

BA.5
F486V – harder to bind to human cell, but more difficult for immune system to detect threat

BA.2.75
Detected May 2022: Large number of extra mutations


Sources: Johns Hopkins University, Reuters
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