Omicron BA.5 strain is more virulent than its ancestors, a new study in mice has found. The research, published in the journal Science Advances, addresses a challenge to studying and understanding rapidly evolving variants of concern due to a lack of animal models for running tests that could help explain why variants and subvariants each behave differently in people.
The study is relevant as Omicron is currently the dominating strain worldwide. Several variants of the virus are in circulation currently. The latest ones are BA.2.86 and EG.5 which are said to have a high transmission rate.
