Several potential “contenders” are attempting to undermine the dominance of the Omicron 5 sub variant of Sars-CoV-2. But at the moment it is not yet clear whether any of them can emerge. There seems to be a real signal arriving from the United States regarding the possibility of the BQ.1.1 subspecies, which has already been christened Cerberus by experts on social networks.

Cerberus is the “daughter” of Omicron 5 itself, and to highlight it, Eric Topol, US scientist and director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute in La Jolla, California, who writes on Twitter about an “important update” coming “from US genomic surveillance” on Covid, With a notable shift: When BA.5 dwindles, BQ.1.1 quickly gains “land” along with other variables, the expert notes, as he published a chart for the Cdc (U.S. Centers for Disease Prevention and Control). It gave up from 2.4% on Oct 8 to 5.7% expected Oct 15, then grows fast within a week.In a scenario where BA.4.6, the other sub variant (from Omicron 4) that’s raced a lot in the country, is given 12.2% , but steady compared to the previous week.

1.1 To clarify the characteristics of BQ.1.1, the researcher questions the map of circulating variables (a map of convergent evolution) and states that for “characteristic immunologic characteristics” they appear to be the main “driver” of the next wave in the United States in the coming weeks.