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'Son of Omicron' making up more than 75 percent of COVID-19 cases at Houston Methodist hospitals

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Published  April 2, 2022 2:03pm CDT
COVID-19 Omicron Variant
FOX 26 Houston
article

Houston Methodist Genome Sequencing Team (Photo courtesy of Houston Methodist)

HOUSTON - Officials at Houston Methodist say a more contagious BA.2 Omicron variant is taking over as the dominant strain among patients, making up 76 percent of COVID-19 cases in their hospitals. 

RELATED: Harris County COVID-19 threat level lowered to Level 3: Yellow

According to an email from Houston Methodist officials, the original omicron variant is being replaced by what is being dubbed the "son of omicron." 

"Our researchers tell us this latest genome sequencing run confirms the original BA.1 omicron variant is being replaced in Houston by the so-called "son of omicron" and beginning to catch up to the increase in BA.2 being seen in other parts of the U.S.," the statement reads. 

Study: Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine did not protect younger children well from Omicron

A local expert weighed in on new data suggesting Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine may be less effective at preventing infection in children ages 5 up to 11.

This comes on the heels of the U.S. reporting a record low of COVID-19 patients in hospitals. 

MORE: Number of COVID-19 patients in hospitals reaches record low in the U.S.

"While coronavirus case counts are not increasing, this is a 52% increase in the proportion of cases caused by the BA.2 variant from just three days ago," officials added in their emailed statement. "A week before that, we were only seeing 1-3% of cases caused by the BA.2 strain."