A case of infection with a new strain of Omicron BA.4 has been recorded in Belgium, Belga News Agency reported on Monday, citing virologists Marc van Ranst and Pete Mas.

The sample was identified in Wallonia (the French-speaking part of Belgium) and subsequently analyzed at the Free University of Brussels.

According to van Ranst, the emergence of new strain of coronavirus is not in itself an important development. "Viruses accumulate mutations, they always do. New versions will still emerge," the agency quoted the virologist as saying.

He also added that the emergence of the new strain of Omicron is better than the emergence of a fundamentally new strain of coronavirus.