Preprint: BA.2.12.1, BA.4, and BA.5 substantially escape neutralizing antibodies

These data show that the BA.2.12.1, BA.4, and BA.5 subvariants substantially escape neutralizing antibodies induced by both vaccination and infection.  More...

France: BA.5 at 41% of sequences in week 24, 2022

“Progressive replacement of BA.2 by BA.5 with a strong increase in detection (41%), increased presence of the mutation at position L452 in screening (64% in week 24 vs 47% in week 23), linked to the increase of certain Omicron sub-lineages including BA.4 and BA.5.”  More...

UK: Vaccine derived polio outbreak in London *1 update*

The Guardian newspaper is reporting the discovery of vaccine derived Polio in wastewater from London today:

“UK Public health officials have declared a national incident after routine surveillance of wastewater in north and east London found evidence of community transmission of poliovirus for the first time.  More...

Portugal: 20% of all Covid-19 pandemic infections have occurred since BA.5 was first reported

The almost 990,000 confirmed cases in April and May 2022 represent 21% of infections since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, while the 1,455 deaths constitute about 6% of total deaths.  More...