The latest research progress of novel coronavirus "Omicron sub-variant BA.5"

ABSTRACT

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 genome is still mutating, forming a variety of variants with strong transmission capacity, causing the spread of the epidemic worldwide, posing a serious threat to people's physical and mental health, and posing a major challenge to global public health. Omicron remains the main variant in several outbreaks worldwide, accounting for about 99% of the global genetic sequence. Recently, the World Health Organization announced that the subvariant of Omicron BA.5 has been found in more than 100 countries and regions around the world, causing the global epidemic rebound. However, there are few studies on the subvariant BA.5. This article reviews the latest research progress in epidemiology, infectivity, pathogenicity, vaccine and monoclonal antibody protection against Omicron subvariant BA.5, in order to provide reference for scientific prevention and control of Omicron subvariant BA.5.