Two Cases Of BA.4 And BA.5 Covid Variants Confirmed In Ireland

Monday, 23 May 2022 at 14:11

By Caoimhe Harney

An expert says the BA4 variant is expected to become the dominant strain of the virus in Europe.

A leading immunologist says he's not "hugely concerned" about the latest Covid variant to hit Ireland.

Two cases of the BA.4 and BA.5 variants have been confirmed here, though there is no indication that they are any more severe than Omicron.

But The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control have reclassified both variants from ""variants of interest" to "variants of concern".

Keeping up to date with booster vaccines is key to combating the latest Covid variant, according to a leading immunologist.

The BA4 and BA5 variants of Covid stem from the Omicron variants.

Professor of Experimental Immunology at Trinity College Dublin Kingston Mills doesn't expect the development to cause a huge surge in cases:

More from National News

DART Plus Projects Expected to Progress by End of November

Audio

Irish Rail confirms plans to expand rail services on the Maynooth and M3 Parkway routes are awaiting business case approval, with DART Plus South West also expected to advance.
63 Derelict Sites on Kildare Register as Government Moves to Strengthen 7% Tax Enforcement

Audio

Athy and Kildare–Newbridge account for more than half of the county's registered derelict sites, while over 230 vacant and derelict homes have been brought back into use through a Government grant scheme.
Investigation Underway As Bodies Of Two People Found In Bray Property

A man in his 30s and a woman in her 40s were discovered shortly after 8 o'clock this morning
Kildare Under Status Yellow Rainfall Warning From Tomorrow

Met Éireann is warning of difficult travelling conditions and localised flooding with the arrival of Storm Austen
Vote To Get Rid Of Triple Lock To Take Place In Dáil Today

There is likely to be heated scenes in Leinster House, with opposition TDs strongly criticising the move and yesterday holding up signs in the Chamber saying "save neutrality"
Man And Woman Further Remanded In Custody After Waterford Arson Attack

They are both due before the court again on the 17 of November.
Public Sector Talks Enter Second Day At WRC

Talks resumed this morning at 10:30am
Google Cloud Outage Linked To Revolut Service Issues

Revolut has confirmed all customers’ money and data are safe.