The eighth epidemic wave in France, “of moderate intensity” according to Covars, the Committee for Surveillance and Anticipation of Health Risks, successor to the Scientific Council, begins to decline. However, a subvariant of the virus could spoil the party: BQ.1.1.
Today, it is BA.5, this sublineage of Omicron, which is in the majority in the territory, according to the latest data published by Public Health France on Thursday. However, the scientists note a significant increase in BQ.1.1, itself a derivative of the BA.5 subvariant. As of October 16, it represented 16% of cases compared to only 7% the previous week.
Every time a new variant belonging to the great Omicron family is installed in France, the Covid-19 epidemic begins to increase again. This is what the health authorities fear with BQ.1.1.
“I am attentive to this BQ.1.1,” Health Minister François Braun said on BFMTV on Sunday, indicating “to monitor it very closely.”
An immune “escape”
In fact, these newcomers continue to erode acquired immunity and present different biological properties. As the epidemic rebound slows down in the territory, the possible replacement of BA.5 by BQ.1.1 could therefore change this trend and stop these encouraging signs.
“BQ1.1 reaches several countries well, and experimental work has shown that it eludes our antibodies more,” writes Rémi Salomon in a tweet.
“Too early to evaluate features”
The BQ.1.1 subvariant appears to have important mutations that could, in the event of a next wave, reduce the efficacy of vaccines, particularly monovalent ones. However, “the risk of immune escape (the ineffectiveness of vaccines) is not proven”, says François Braun.
“It is still too early to assess the characteristics of this sublineage and its potential impact,” agrees with Public Health France.
For Anthony Fauci, medical adviser to the President of the United States, BQ.1.1 is currently a “black box” with several unknowns, particularly regarding symptoms.
Source: BFM TV
