Lima, May 13 (RHC)-- The Peruvian Ministry of Health's (Minsa) National Health Institute (INS) has reported the presence of 23 lineages descending from the COVID-19 Omicron variant in the country.

Ministry of Health's (Minsa) National Health Institute (INS) of Peru has reported Wednesday that from the 99 descendant subvariants of the COVID-19's Omicron variant spread across the world, health authorities said that 23 subvariants are circulating in the country.

These subvariants seem to be more transmissible than some previous Omicron variants.  According to the report, the BA.2 lineage stands out from these descendants, becoming the most prevalent worldwide, saying that it represents at least 90 percent of cases in Peru.

The report also commented on the presence of BA.4 and BA.5 lineages, which cases are likely to increase in South Africa.  The U.S. has revealed a rapid growth in cases associated with the BA.2.12.1, descendant lineage of BA.2.  

In the United States, it was recorded that more than 40 percent of the patients were of people infected by this lineage during the first week of May.

The BA.2.12.1 is characterized by developing particular mutations in the spike protein, boosting cases 42 percent higher than the BA.2.  During the last three weeks of April, the BA.2.12.1 lineage was detected in Peru, according to the INS.

The Minsa of Peru said that there are six people between the ages of 22 and 64 from Center Lima, Eastern Lima, and Huacho and Lima Region.  According to the INS, the citizens have not been hospitalized nor reported as deaths.

The Institution has urged citizens to respect the anti-COVID mandatory measures while performing social and commercial activities.