WHO raportti viikolta 42

 

WHO sitaatti 11.11.2022

5ituation rapports https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/weekly-epidemiological-update-on-covid-19---9-november-2022

SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern and Omicron subvariants under monitoring

Geographic spread and prevalence of VOCs
Globally, from 7 October to 7 November 2022, 114 781 SARS-CoV-2 sequences were shared through GISAID. Among
these, 114 340 sequences were the Omicron variant of concern (VOC), accounting for 99.6% of sequences reported
globally in the past 30 days.
During epidemiological week 42 (17 to 23 October 2022), among Omicron sister lineages, BA.5 and its descendent
lineages continued to be dominant globally, accounting for 74.5% of sequences submitted to GISAID. A comparison
of sequences submitted to GISAID during week 41 (10 to 16 October 2022) to week 42 shows a rise in sequence
prevalence from 5.8% to 7.3% for BA.2 and its descendent lineages, while BA.4 descendent lineages declined slightly
from 5.2% to 4.1%. Unassigned sequences (presumed to be Omicron) account for 11.9% of sequences submitted to
GISAID as of week 42.
The global variant circulation indicates a replacement of previously dominating BA.5 descendent lineages by the most
recently emerging variants BQ.1 and BA.5 + R346X. Among the variants under monitoring and during week 42 as
compared to week 41, BQ.1 (BA.5.3.1.1.1.1) and its descendent lineages and BA.5 + R346X are the lineages that have
had the largest increases. BQ.1 rose from 9.4% to 13.4%. BA.5 with additional mutations (R346X, K444X, V445X,
N450D and/or N460X) rose from 20.8% to 22.9%, mainly due to BA.5 + R346X. BA.2.75 showed a rise in sequence
prevalence from 3.5% to 4.3%. XBB and its descendent lineages rose from 1.1% to 2.0%. BA.2.3.20 is rising slowly,
with a prevalence of <1%.
WHO will continue to closely monitor the XBB and BQ.1 lineages as part of Omicron and requests countries to
continue to be vigilant, to monitor and report sequences, as well as to conduct independent and comparative
analyses of the different Omicron sublineages. The TAG-VE is working to improve variant risk assessment and work
towards more quantitative indicators that can be used for such assessment.
Additional resources
• Tracking SARS-CoV-2 Variants
• TAG-VE statement on Omicron sublineages BQ.1 and XBB
• COVID-19 new variants: Knowledge gaps and research
• Genomic sequencing of SARS-CoV-2: a guide to implementation for maximum impact on public health
• VIEW-hub: repository for the most relevant and recent vaccine data