New Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 Subvariants are Detected in Indonesia

New Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants have been detected in Indonesia. The subvariance is known to have a low rate of confirmed positive patients. There were 4 new subvariant cases of BA.4 and BA.5 first reported in Indonesia on June 6, 2022. The 4 cases consisted of 1 person who was BA.4 positive, an Indonesian citizen with asymptomatic clinical conditions and had been vaccinated twice.

Chairperson of the Infection Working Group for the Central Management of the Indonesian Lung Doctors Association (PDPI) Erlina Burhan said that one of the patients had moderate Covid-19 symptoms, namely complaining of shortness of breath, while the other patient only experienced mild Covid-19 symptoms.

The remaining 3 positive cases BA.5. was a foreign traveller on their delegation to the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in Bali from 23 to 28 May. The clinical conditions of the three people included two asymptomatic people and one mild person with sore throat and body aches. On average, they have received Booster vaccines, and some have even been vaccinated against COVID-19.

 

Spokesperson for the Indonesian Ministry of Health, dr. Mohammad Syahril, Sp.P, MPH said that at the global level, epidemiologically, 6,903 sequences of BA.4 have been reported through GISAID. The reports come from 58 countries and there are 5 countries with the most BA.4 reports, including South Africa, the United States, the United Kingdom, Denmark, and Israel.

 

While BA.5 has been reported as many as 8,687 sequences from 63 countries. There are 5 countries with the most sequence reports, namely America, Portugal, Germany, England, and South Africa.

 

"From the report, it was conveyed that the transmission of BA.4 and BA.5 had the possibility of spreading faster than the BA.1 and BA.2 omicron subvariants. Then the severity of BA.4 and BA.5 was conveyed that there was no indication of causing more severe pain than other Omicron variants," said dr. Syahril at a virtual press conference at the Ministry of Health building, Jakarta, Friday the 6th of June.

 

There are 3 countries, namely South Africa, Portugal, and Chile, where the increase in COVID-19 cases is associated with an increase in BA.4 and BA.5 cases. Meanwhile in Indonesia cases of BA.4 and BA.5 began in early June 2022. Told by dr. Syahril, who needs to be wary of is immune escape, meaning that a person's immunity has the possibility of escaping from immune protection caused by infection with the omicron variant.