Butantean finds new Ômicron underlay in Sao Paulo

A new strain of BN.1, the Ômicron variant of the coronavirus, was first detected in Brazil by the Butantan Institute. It is a variant derived from BA.2.75 and was detected on October 27 of this year in a sample collected from a 38-year-old woman living in the city of São Paulo. This variant is being detected for the first time in the country, but it cannot be said that it will spread.

According to the institute, finding this underlining is an indication that it is prevalent in the state of São Paulo. “As this is not an example of a variant of concern – more transmissible, according to the WHO (World Health Organization) – it should not have a major impact”, the entity added in a note.

BN.1 was first described in the Pango system of SARS-CoV-2 lineages in India on July 28 of this year and is currently found in the United Kingdom (16% of BN.1 samples worldwide). (15%), Austria (14%), Australia (14), India (11), according to data from Butanten.

Last Thursday (the 17th), CeVIVAS (Center for Viral Surveillance and Serological Evaluation) at the Butantan Institute, detected for the first time two new sublines of the Ômicron strain, named XBB.1 and CK.2.1.1, in samples. Sao Paulo. Tests were collected in the first half of October and analyzes were confirmed by the SARS-CoV-2 Variants Alert Network.

XBB.1 was detected in a sample collected in Sao Paulo and is already present in 35 countries. According to the WHO, some preliminary evidence suggests that this particular sublineage, classified as a surveillance variant, has a higher risk of reinfection compared to other omicron variants.

CK.2.1.1 was detected in a patient from Ribeiro Preto in the hinterland of São Paulo. , Spain and Austria.