Thread by @Mike_Honey_

Here's the latest variant+mutation picture for the new BA.1.1 (Omicron) lineage. This was formerly BA.1 with the Spike R346K mutation.

That mutation is understood to give increased immunity escape.

The BA.1.1 definition is now flowing out to databases and websites.
🧵

Note the Frequency is calculated for each country independently, comparing to all the recent samples sequenced in that country.

Linear and Log Y-axis presented - log axis helps compare growth rates.

BA.1.1 has quickly reached 65% frequency in the USA. Here are the leading 7 states (by volume of BA.1.1 sequences shared).

Colorado (79%) and Washington (75%) are reporting the highest frequencies.

Here are the next 7 US states reporting BA.1.1.

Georgia (84%) and Ohio (82%) are reporting the highest frequencies

BA.1.1 is now the leading lineage in Canada at 51%. Here are the leading provinces.

The sample sizes are very small after late-December, and some provinces are lagging by weeks, making it hard to compare.

Across Africa, BA.1.1 has not reached high frequencies in most countries, besides Nigeria (76%).

Across Asia, BA.1.1 has reached the highest frequency in Japan (99%) and Singapore (53%)

Here are the other top countries reporting BA.1.1 across Europe.

The Netherlands (46%) and Switzerland (43%) have reached the highest frequency.

Across South America, BA.1.1 has reached the highest frequency in French Guina (92%) and Argentina (85%)

Interactive dataviz here:
github.com/Mike-Honey/cov…

The study discussed in this pre-print noted:
"...the entire panel of antibodies [every combination of natural immunity and/or vaccine] was essentially rendered inactive against this minor form of the Omicron variant."
news-medical.net/amp/news/20211…

* [at that time] minor form