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Particles of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, known as COVID-19, captured by a transmission electron micrograph. (provided by the NIAID)

The detection rate of the so-called “stealth” BA.2 subvariant of the COVID-19 virus’s Omicron variant has been rapidly rising among confirmed cases in South Korea, leading disease control authorities to predict a potential impact on the number of domestic cases and the timeline for the current wave’s peak.

Speaking in a regular briefing Monday, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency Commissioner Jeong Eun-kyeong said, “The percentage of BA.2 among Omicron variant [cases] has been rising, and with the recognition of cases through [specialist] rapid antigen testing, we could see a delay in the time needed for the current wave to peak and an increase in the number of cases.”

This means that in contrast with other countries where BA.2 has propelled a resurgence after the Omicron wave had passed, South Korea is experiencing a simultaneous rise in the percentage of BA.2 cases while the Omicron wave is still happening — a fact that could impact the current wave.

Approximately 30% more transmissible than the previous Omicron variant, the BA.2 subvariant has become the world’s dominant strain, accounting for 60% of all global confirmed cases.

The BA.2 detection rate in South Korea has also risen sharply, climbing from 26.3% during the second week of this month (March 6 to 12) to 41.4% as of last week (March 13 to 19).

“As we’ve seen with the renewed rise in confirmed cases in the US and Europe [due to the stealth Omicron subvariant], it could end up disrupting the transition toward a trend of decline in South Korea,” predicted Kim Shin-woo, a professor of infectious disease at Kyungpook National University Hospital.

By Kwon Ji-dam, staff reporter

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