The “Centaur” variant of the Omicron mutation of the coronavirus was detected in the Netherlands after Germany and Britain.
“Coronavirus subvariant BA.2.75”, which had already been detected in India, Australia, Japan, Canada, the US, Germany and Britain, among others, “has now also been detected in the Netherlands,” the Dutch Institute for Public of Health and Environment in a statement it issued.
“We know very little about BA.2.75” but “it appears that it can more easily bypass immunity to the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, thanks to small, specific mutations,” the Institute added.
The World Health Organization’s chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan said last week that the BA.2.75 variant was first detected in India and then in about ten other countries. As he said, it appears to carry some mutations in the spike protein.
“It is still too early to know whether this subvariant has the potential to bypass immunity or even lead to more severe disease. We don’t know,” he added, assuring that the WHO is monitoring the situation.