Botswana's Omicron FN. 1: A Closer Look

In December 2022, scientists in Botswana found a new sublineage of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, called FN. 1. This variant was discovered in samples from a few places in the Greater Gaborone district. To understand more about this new variant, researchers looked at its spread around the world and studied its genetic changes. Out of millions of COVID-19 sequences available, only 87 were of the FN. 1 lineage. Most of these were found in Botswana, South Africa, and the UK. The variant seems to have originated in Botswana around October 2022. It has two specific changes in its spike protein, different from other related lineages like BQ. 1. 1. 74. Since Botswana and its neighbors often see new variants first, it's important to keep a close eye on these situations to be prepared for any future changes.