Subvariant of Omicron VA.2.75 detected in Bulgaria for the first time

For the first time, a sub-variant of Omicron VA.2.75 (a sub-variant of the BA.2 lineage) has been detected in Bulgaria and appears to be spreading faster than the BA.5 sub-variant, the National Centre for Infectious and Parasitic Diseases announced on September 26.

The World Health Organiсation classifies BA.2.75 as a variant of concern under monitoring.

The Centre for Infectious and Parasitic Diseases successfully analyzed 82 clinical samples with SARS-CoV-2 by next-generation whole-genome sequencing. The samples were collected from patients with COVID-19 between 2 August – 2 September, 2022 and were sent from 17 different medical institutions from 16 districts of the country.

Omicron variant virus was detected in all 82 clinical samples. The proportion of Omicron sub-variants was as follows: BA.2.75 (2.4%), BA.4.x (3.7%), BA.5.x (72.0%) and BE.x/BF.x which are sub-variants of BA.5 (22.0%).