# A researcher at Cambridge University says despite the new BA.2 Omicron variant’s transmission advantage it does not warrant public health measures over and above the current response to the original Omicron. Mirobiologist Ravi Gupta says BA.2 research published this week shows mutations make the variant between 30- and 34-percent more infectious than the original variant. The discovery of the new variant has raised concerns that South Africa could see another wave in infections. There are now three officially designated subtypes of Omicron.