According to Fleishon, it is "too soon to tell" whether the BA.2.75 will be the next dominant variant. However, he believes that the subvariant may be "alarming because it may imply a trend to come".
He explains that in recent months, there has been a trend of second generation variants based on Omicron sub-lineages with mutations in the S1 section of the spike protein, namely BA.1, BA.2, BA.3, BA.4, and BA.5.
He says that the mutations are specifically taking place in the part of the spike protein which the virus uses to connect to and gain entry into cells.
Additionally, it has been noted that the rise in these sub-variants has been ""at a level not seen in second-generation variants from other variants of concerns.”
"The fact that such a divergent 2nd gen variant can succeed inter-host is alarming. It means that if BA.2.75 will not succeed, and even if it will, other 2nd gen might grow better over time," Fleishon said.