Variants of COVID are still on the rise everywhere in Quebec, show data from the Institut national de santé publique du Québec (INSPQ).
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BA.2, which concerned 42.7% of cases in the province on April 17, lost a little space to BA.2.12.1, which has increased considerably.
BA.2.12.1, which comes to us mainly from the United States, represented only 0.4% of cases on April 17, whereas as of May 22, it is found in 14% of cases.
The BA.4 and BA.5 which had not been detected on April 17 are on the rise, representing 2.3% of the cases for BA.4 and 3.6% for BA.5.
“BA.4 and BA.5 breed faster. It is estimated that BA.2.12.1 doubles in five and a half days, and BA.4 and BA.5 need 4 and a half days. In the medium term, they are the ones who end up winning the battle,” explains pharmacist Diane Lamarre during her segment to Mario Dumont.
The rise in cases is explained, among other things, by a mutation of the virus, making the vaccine less effective.
“There are mutations that are worrying. We know certain particular positions on the genome which cause these variants to escape immunity. BA.4 and BA.5 unfortunately have these mutations. This raises fears that even partially or totally vaccinated people may be less well protected once morest these two variants. It is the antibodies that do not recognize them as the enemies to be killed, ”she gives as an example.
These variants explain the significant rise in cases in France and Portugal, in particular.
“In France, between Wednesday and today Friday, it has increased enormously. They are a little worried, but not too much, ”notes Ms. Lamarre, however.
So Canadians who travel, who go on vacation, can bring these variants back home.
