Fast-spreading Omicron Sub-variant Raises Concerns

An Omicron sub-variant of the COVID-19 virus is spreading fast in many parts of the world and raising concerns for experts.

新冠病毒的一种奥密克戎亚变体正在世界许多地区快速传播，引发专家担忧。

In the northeastern states, including New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts, BA.2 has made up more than half of the cases.

在包括纽约、新泽西和马萨诸塞在内的东北部各州，BA.2已占病例总数的一半以上。

In Britain, the Office for National Statistics also reported that cases of BA.2 infection had outnumbered other versions by early March.

在英国，国家统计局也报告称，到3月初，BA.2感染病例已超过其他变体。

Dr. Anthony Fauci is the U.S. government's top infectious disease expert.

安东尼·福奇博士是美国政府的首席传染病专家。

He told ABC's This Week program that the U.S. would likely see an increase of infections like Britain.

他在美国广播公司的《本周》节目中表示，美国很可能会像英国一样出现感染人数上升。

They have a relaxation of some restrictions such as indoor masking.”

他们放宽了一些限制，比如室内佩戴口罩的规定。”

Additionally, immunity from vaccines and past infections was also decreasing.

此外，来自疫苗和既往感染的免疫力也在下降。

Dr. Eric Topol is head of Scripps Research Translational Institute.

埃里克·托波尔博士是斯克里普斯研究所转化研究所的负责人。

He told the Associated Press, “It's inevitable we will see a BA.2 wave here.”

他对美联社说：“我们这里必然会出现一波BA.2疫情。”

And an early study in Qatar also suggests that vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna will work against both Omicron sub-variants.

卡塔尔的一项早期研究也表明，辉瑞-BioNTech和莫德纳的疫苗对这两种奥密克戎亚变体都有效。

The results suggest that the level of protection against BA.2 is about the same as for BA.1.

结果表明，针对BA.2的保护水平与BA.1大致相同。

I'm Mario Ritter, Jr.

我是马里奥·里特。