Variant BQ 1.1: stable in France, symptoms, dangerous?

[Mise à jour le 13 janvier 2023 à 10h36] Spotted in Africathen in Europethe variant QB 1.1 "appears to be stabilizing with 69% playable footage during the Flash S52 survey (last week of 2022, versus 67% on week 51)"informed Public Health France on January 12, 2023. According to Prof.Eric CaumesProfessor of Infectious Diseases at Sorbonne University, guest of European 1,BQ 1.1 was the origin of the 9th wave of Covid which spread in France between November and December 2022. More contagious than the previous Omicron variants and more resistant to vaccination, it was not shown to be more dangerous. According to the models reported by theECDC, more than 80% of infections by SARS-CoV-2 in Europe will be due at BQ.1/BQ.1.1 beginning 2023.

What is the new Covid BQ 1.1 variant?

The variantQB 1.1 is a sub-lineage of BQ.1, himself sub-lineage of BA.5, himself sublineage of the Omicron variant, himself Sars-Cov-2 virus variant of Covid-19. It was defined in October 2022. "BQ.1 is characterized by the K444T mutation and N460K, and BQ.1.1 additionally carries the R346K mutation. These mutations are located on important sites of the Spike protein, involved both in the interaction with its receptor and in the recognition by antibodies" indicates Public Health France in thevariant analysis October 2022. The BQ.1 variant has been classified as "VO" that is "varying to follow" by theECDC.

As a reminder, the vast majority of viruses are characterized by their constant genetic evolution, more or less rapid. This genetic evolution is associated with mutations or deletions in the genetic code of the virus which leads to the appearance of "variants". "For a virus like SARS-CoV-2, the emergence of variants over time is therefore an expected phenomenon."rememberPublic Health France. Among these variants, variants called "worrying" Where "VOC" in English (Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta and Omicron (the last VOC appeared at the end of November 2021 in France).

How many cases of the BQ 1.1 variant in France?

Santé Publique France began reporting its presence in early October 2022. Its circulation continued to increase until the end of December 2022. On January 12, 2023,Public Health Franceindicates that he "seems to be stabilizing with 69% of interpretable footage during the Flash S52 survey (last week of 2022, compared to 67% on week 51)​​​​​​".

What are the symptoms of the BQ 1.1 variant?

For the moment, there have been no communications from the French health authorities on the symptoms of Covid cases positive for the BQ 1.1 variant, however. "IPersons infected with BA5 could also be infected with BQ 1.1" warned the virologist and member of the Covars Bruno Lina on the newspaper site LeProgrès.frNovember 25. According to observations of doctors reported on social networks in October 2022, the BQ 1.1 variant causeddigestive symptoms. On Twitter for example, Dr Yves Coppieters, epidemiologist and Director of the Epidemiology and Biostatistics Research Center of the School of Public Health ofULBin Belgium, explains that he trains the symptoms "classics" of the Covid "and diarrhea, vomiting, stomach aches that must be taken into account for people at higher risk".

How contagious is the BQ 1.1 variant?

"BQ.1.1 is one of the variants presenting a profound resistance to the antiviral immunity induced by BA.2 and BA.5 infections (a previous infection does not protect against BQ 1.1, editor’s note) as well as therapeutic monoclonal antibodies" said the authors of a Japanese study conducted on hamsters published in December 2022 on bioRxiv. They also report a "greater fusogenicity than BA.5".Fusogenicity is a factor that can influence the transmissibility of a variant. The BQ 1.1 variant is thus more contagious than the BA.5 which was already more contagious than the previous variants."BQ.1.1 has the highest transmissibility Omicron sublineages" reportedPublic Health France December 14.

Is the BQ 1.1 variant dangerous?

"The pathogenicity of BQ.1.1 is comparable or even lower than that of BA.5"found the Japanese researchers. It wouldn’t make you sick anymore."No clinical signals of concern have been associated with BQ.1.1, whether in France or abroad. However, the efficacy of monoclonal antibody treatments is impactedin particular a complete loss of activity of the Evusheld" indicated Public Health France on December 14. Two in vitro studies (reported by the health agency) showed increased resistance of BQ 1.1 to neutralization by post-vaccination and post-infection antibodies after BA.1, BA.2 or BA.5. "There is an antigenic variation that makes people infected with BA5 could also be infected with BQ 1.1"informed the virologist and member of Covars, Bruno Lina, on the siteLeProgrès.frEnd of november. This was confirmed by Japanese researchers in the December 5 study.

Sources:

– Covid epidemiological point, Public Health France

– Variant risk analysis, Public Health France.

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