Scientists have just warned that a new sub-variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19, called KP.2, is more transmissible and more resistant to vaccines than previous variants, including the XBB variant that accounts for the majority of new infections.

Microscopic image provided by the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases shows the SARS-CoV-2 virus in a sample of a patient with COVID-19.

The study was published on bioRxiv, a platform that hosts scientific manuscripts before they are peer-reviewed. However, the findings pose a significant potential threat to public health and need to be closely monitored.

According to the study, KP.2 has a significantly higher true reproduction number (Re) than the JN.1 variant, indicating that it is more transmissible. This has been observed in the US, UK and Canada, where KP.2 is spreading rapidly.

KP.2 also shows high neutralization resistance, meaning it can evade the immune system’s defenses, either from vaccines or from infection with earlier variants. This increased vaccine resistance may partly explain the rise in COVID-19 cases caused by KP.2.

Scientists are calling for close monitoring of the spread of KP.2 and further research to better understand the variant’s transmission mechanisms and vaccine resistance. This information will help researchers develop more effective vaccines and treatments in the future.