A Japanese virologist says he did a genome analysis of the BA.2 Omicron subvariant and that compared with BA.1, nine mutations occurred at different locations. He says the difference could make the BA.2 subvariant more transmissible.

Associate Professor Takeuchi Hiroaki at Tokyo Medical and Dental University analyzed the genetic sequence of the BA.2 subvariant taken from a patient treated at the hospital.

Takeuchi says more than 30 mutations were found in the subvariant's spike protein, just like with BA.1. But he says nine of them were at different locations.

Takeuchi says the difference likely makes BA.2 more transmissible than BA.1.

He says the route of infection for the patient was untraceable, and community transmission of BA.2 may be starting in Japan.

He stresses the need to prevent the spread of the subvariant to end the current wave of coronavirus infections as soon as possible.