Thread by @Mike_Honey_

Here's the latest variant picture for BA.1 (Omicron) with the Spike R346K mutation. That mutation helps with immunity escape.

This combination was recently identified as a new sub-lineage BA.1.1, but that will take some time to filter through to databases and websites.
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The global analysis (above) of BA.1 with the Spike R346K mutation shows it's frequency was low, but has been steadily increasing (as a proportion of all BA.1 samples).

In the United Kingdom, the frequency of BA.1 with the Spike R346K mutation has been steadily growing, recently at ~25% (of all BA.1 samples).

Samples from Switzerland show BA.1 with the Spike R346K mutation has been quite frequent: ~50% (of all BA.1 samples).

In the USA, the frequency of BA.1 with the Spike R346K mutation has been steadily growing, recently at ~40-50% (of all BA.1 samples).

Japan's Omicron outbreak has predominantly been BA.1 with the Spike R346K mutation, recently at 90-100% (of all BA.1 samples).

Kenya's Omicron outbreak has predominantly been BA.1 with the Spike R346K mutation, recently at 90-100% (of all BA.1 samples).

Interactive dataviz and more info here:
github.com/Mike-Honey/sar…