New Omicron Subvariants Fuel Surge In South Africa, Raising Concerns In US

The Los Angeles Times (5/3) reports “a pair of new Omicron subvariants” – BA.4 and BA.5 – “has emerged, raising the possibility that survivors of earlier Omicron strains can get reinfected.” The subvariants “have gained increasing attention in South Africa as weekly coronavirus cases tripled in the last two weeks, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.” Health experts “say South Africa’s BA.4/BA.5 wave could repeat in the U.S. – but probably not immediately.”