It is suspected that the BF.7 sub-variant of Omicron now circulating in China is responsible for the recent increase in Covid-19 infections. This is not the first time that BF.7 has made headlines; in October, it began to replace the dominant variations in the United States and other European nations.
When viruses change, they form lineages and sub-lineages, much like the SARS-CoV-2 tree trunk sprouting branches and sub-branches. The BF.7 is identical to BA.5.2.1.7, which is a sub lineage of the BA.5 sub lineage of Omicron.
As per the Indian Express, the BF.7 sub-variant has 4.4-fold higher neutralization resistance than the original D614G variant, according to a study published in the journal Cell Host and Microbe earlier this month. This means that in the lab, antibodies from vaccinated or infected individuals were less likely to destroy BF.7 than the original Wuhan virus that spread globally in 2020.
However, BF.7 is not the most resilient sub-variant; the same study found that another Omicron sub-variant, BQ.1, had more than tenfold greater neutralization resistance. A variant with a higher neutralization resistance has a greater chance of propagating across a population and displacing other variants.
In October, BF.7 accounted for more than 5% of US cases and 7.26 % of UK cases. Scientists in the West diligently monitored the variant, but there was no significant increase in the number of cases or hospitalizations in these nations.
However, BF.7 is not the most resilient sub-variant; the same study found that another Omicron sub-variant, BQ.1, had more than tenfold greater neutralization resistance.
A variant with a higher neutralization resistance has a greater chance of propagating across a population and displacing other variants.
In October, BF.7 accounted for more than 5% of US cases and 7.26 % of UK cases. Scientists in the West diligently monitored the variant, but there was no significant increase in the number of cases or hospitalizations in these nations.
BA.1 and BA.2 subvariants of Omicron propelled the January 2022 epidemic in India. The subsequent sub-variants BA.4 and BA.5 were never as prevalent in India as they were in European nations; hence, there were very few cases of BF.7 in India (which is an offshoot of BA.5).
According to data from the national SARS-CoV-2 genome sequencing network in India, BA.5 lineages only accounted for 2.5% of cases in November. In November, 65.6% of all cases in India were due to the recombinant variation XBB, which is currently the most prevalent form.
