Reuters

Fact Check: No evidence Omicron BA.5 is more infectious than measles or is 'the most infectious virus known'

Scientists say there is no evidence that the BA.5 version of the Omicron coronavirus variant is more transmissible than measles, or that it has a basic reproduction number, or "R-naught" (R0), of 18.6 ...
The Conversation

New COVID variants may be more transmissible but that doesn’t mean the R0 – or basic reproduction number – has increased

During the pandemic we have all become familiar with a lot of epidemiological concepts. One that was introduced to us early in 2020 is the “basic reproductive number”, or R0. This tells us about the ...
The Conversation

Why we corrected our estimates for the reproduction number of two COVID subvariants

We published an article earlier this month that contained incorrect estimates for the basic reproduction number (R0) for COVID subvariants BA.4/BA.5 and BA.2. We have now corrected the error, but I ...
Nature

Basic reproduction number varies markedly between closely related pandemic clones

The Nature Index 2025 Research Leaders — previously known as Annual Tables — reveal the leading institutions and countries/territories in the natural and health sciences, according to their output in ...