The Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19, has spawned yet another strain.

“Just as the omicron surge starts to recede in parts of the U.S., scientists have their eye on another coronavirus variant spreading rapidly in parts of Asia and Europe. It’s officially called ‘omicron BA.2,’ and this week scientists detected cases of it in several U.S. states, including California, Texas and Washington,” NPR reported.

“Although BA.2 is currently rare in the U.S., scientists expect it to spread in the country over the next month. There’s growing evidence that it’s just as contagious as — or possibly a bit more contagious than — the first omicron variant, called ‘omicron BA.1.’”