Aside from all of the usual COVID symptoms, like a dry cough, a scratchy throat, fatigue, and muscle aches, the Stealth variant is thought to cause a few other distinct issues. They save lives and prevent serious illness. So far, vaccination means that the rise in cases is not translating to a rise in severe illness and deaths. It is critical that anyone with COVID-19 symptoms isolates and gets a PCR test immediately. Please also make sure to follow all Government guidance to reduce the spread of infection. Studies in the UK reveal (where stealth Omicron is already spreading at a high rate) that people infected with the sub-variant show gut-related . The Omicron variant sub-lineage known as BA.2 has been designated a variant under investigation ( VUI-22JAN-01) by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). Night sweats Scratchy throat Dry cough Mild muscle aches In data published by the UKHSA on January 14, they found that NHS test and trace data revealed a loss of smell or taste was reported less. When the reduced risk of hospitalisation was combined with vaccine effectiveness against symptomatic disease, the vaccine effectiveness against hospitalisation was estimated as 52% after one dose, 72% 2 to 24 weeks after dose 2, 52% 25+ weeks after dose 2 and 88% 2 weeks after a booster dose. Approximately half of PCR tests in the UK are able to detect SGTF. This suggests that, as immunity begins to wane, these newly emerging BA.2 variants may fuel future waves of SARS-CoV-2 infection. All 3 subvariants have spike protein mutations of L452 and elude immunity from prior BA1 infection. According to the COVID Symptom Study, the five most common symptoms are the same: Runny nose, headache, fatigue, sneezing and sore throat. UKHSA is carrying out targeted testing at locations where the positive cases were likely to be infectious. Our data shows that LFD tests are similarly able to detect COVID-19 in individuals who have been exposed to Omicron as in those exposed to previous variants. UKHSA is acting to get scientific information available as quickly as possible in order to inform the right balance of interventions to prevent transmission and protect lives. BA.2 is found to be able to alarmingly reinfect patients originally infected by Omicron BA.1. The genome of VUI-21OCT-01 does not have many mutations compared to Delta. Delta and Omicron Cases are being eclipsed by BA2 Variant rapidly. Omicron has a deletion atposition69/70of the spike proteinwhich allows it to be tracked through S gene target failure(SGTF)in some PCR tests. Please come forward to receive your booster as soon as possible. So far, there have been 717 V-22OCT-01 sequences uploaded from the UK to the international GISAID database. This sub-lineage, which was designated by Pangolin on 6 December 2021, does not have the spike gene deletion at 69-70 that causes S-gene target failure (SGTF), which has previously been used as a proxy to detect cases of Omicron. Here is what we know about it. However, with the spread of BA.4 and BA.5, that symptom seems to have returned, some doctors note. These early findings should be interpreted with caution as transmission data and dynamics can fluctuate, meaning that early findings can change quickly when new variants are identified. A preliminary assessment by UKHSA did not find a difference in vaccine effectiveness, although it said there was no data yet available on severity. As with any other coronavirus (COVID-19) variant, the vast majority do not confer any advantage to the virus and die out relatively quickly. UKHSA scientists are urging anyone who has not had all the vaccines they are eligible for to make sure that they get them as soon as possible. And even if it does become the dominant version of Omicron, it may not actually alter the trajectory of the pandemic in countries that have seen a big wave of BA.1. What are the most common symptoms of Omicron BA.2? The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has published variant technical briefing 37. Data for the devolved administrations will follow in due course. UKHSA has also published analyses related to the original Omicron strain BA.1. Currently, the Omicron variant has BA.1, BA.2, BA.3, and B.1.1.529 sub-variants, of which the BA.1 was dominant a few months before, and scientists have recently warned about the BA.2 sub-variant . The risk of catching or passing on COVID-19 is greatest when someone who is infected is physically close to, or sharing an enclosed or poorly ventilated space with, other people. In addition, UKHSA has published data which shows the detection of cases exhibiting S-gene target failure (SGTF) in recent weeks across the country. The odds of reporting long COVID symptoms four to eight weeks after a first COVID-19 infection were 21.8% higher after an infection compatible with Omicron BA.2 than Omicron BA.1 among adults who were triple-vaccinated when infected; this was after adjusting for socio-demographic characteristics and time since last COVID-19 vaccination. According to Baric, Omicron is the first SARS-CoV-2 variant to evolve in the context of mounting immunity in the populationthe result of vaccines and prior infection with other forms of the . Stay at home if you have any respiratory symptoms or a fever and limit contact with others until you are feeling better, particularly if they are likely to be at greater risk if they contract COVID-19. In the last week, VUI-21OCT-01 accounted for approximately 6% of all Delta cases. Current guidance from NHS England is that the main symptoms of Covid continue to be a high temperature, a new continuous cough, a loss or change to your sense. Following the change in Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advice yesterday, a booster dose for everyone over 18 years is now recommended at a minimum of 3 months from your last primary course jab. It showed that the AstraZeneca and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines provided much lower levels of protection against symptomatic infection compared to the protection that they provide against Delta. Its very likely that we will find more cases over the coming days as we are seeing in other countries globally and as we increase case detection through focused contact tracing. It is testament to the diligence and scientific expertise of my colleagues at UKHSA, and the genomic sequencing capacity developed through the pandemic, that this new variant has been identified and analysed so quickly. Runny nose (especially in combination with loss of smell) A runny nose is a universal sign of cold, flu and now COVID-19. New sub-lineages within Delta continue to be identified. Among those who had received 2 doses of Pfizer or Moderna, effectiveness dropped from around 65 to 70% down to around 10% by 20 weeks after the seconddose. The worst symptom is a "throat on fire," said University of California, San Francisco's Dr. Peter Chin-Hong. There can be several reasons for growth advantage, but in the case of BA.4 and BA.5, laboratory data suggests a degree of immune escape which is likely to contribute. Vaccination is critical to help us bolster our defences against this new variant please get your first, second or booster jab without delay. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has identified 75 further cases of COVID-19 with mutations consistent with B.1.1.529 in England, in addition to the previous 29 confirmed cases of the SARS-CoV-2 variant known as B.1.1.529. In this analysis, the risk of hospitalisation is lower for Omicron cases with symptomatic or asymptomatic infection after 2 and 3 doses of vaccine, with an 81% (95% confidence interval 77 to 85%) reduction in the risk of hospitalisation after 3 doses compared to unvaccinated Omicron cases. Inthe SIREN study, a large cohort of healthcare workers are tested regularly by PCR to detect asymptomatic infection in addition to normal testing practices for symptomatic infection. The most important thing everyone can do now is to get any vaccine dose that you are eligible for it is by far the most effective action you can take to protect yourself, your families and your communities. The five most common symptoms of Omicron are: runny nose;. Vaccination is critical to help us bolster our defences against this new variant please get your first, second, third or booster jab without delay. Health and Social Care Secretary, Sajid Javid, said: We are learning to live with this virus and thanks to our world-leading surveillance system we can rapidly detect and carefully monitor any genetic changes to COVID-19. A NEW Covid-19 Omicron sub-variant is spreading across Ireland and is the most infectious strain yet. One case is located in Camden, London, and one case is located in Wandsworth, London. The individuals who have tested positive and their contacts have been asked to self-isolate. Under the new system, the variant of concern (VOC) label will be assigned to variants which are currently emerging or circulating, and which the following characteristics can be confirmed or predicted: 1. Now more countries, particularly in Asia and Europe, are reporting an increase in cases driven by BA.2. However, it remains too early to draw any definitive conclusions on hospital severity, and the increased transmissibility of Omicron and the rising cases in the over 60s population in England means it remains highly likely that there will be significant pressure on the NHS in coming weeks. We will continue to closely analyse all available biological, epidemiological and genomic evidence for any SARS-CoV-2 variant in the UK or internationally. The omicron variant of the coronavirus was first detected in late 2021. They are our best defence and we have turbocharged our rollout programme inviting 7 million more people over the age of 40 to get their booster jab so even more people get protection from this disease. The Delta variant, for example, comprises 200 different sub-variants. One individual diagnosed in hospital has sadly died. Overall, the original Omicron lineage, BA.1, is dominant in the UK and the proportion of BA.2 cases is currently low. Based on the CDC's genomic surveillance, the BA.2 or stealth Omicron subvariant is responsible for most new SARS-CoV-2 infections in the U.S. BA.2 is a subvariant of the original SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant (B.1.1.529), along with BA.1.1 and BA.3. An estimated 78.7% of confirmed cases in England are BA.5 which was first identified in April and was designated as a Variant of Concern on 18 May. As I previously reported, omicron subvariants have a shorter incubation period, which is why the symptoms may appear earlier. However, it is not confirmatory as there are a number of other reasons that a sample might exhibit SGTF. Early data shows that young children who are hospitalised experience mild illness and are discharged after short stays in hospital. UKHSAis carrying out targeted testing at locations where the positive cases were likely to be infectious. Updated Jan. 27, 2023 The omicron subvariant of COVID-19, BA.5, became one of the dominant strains of the virus in the fall of 2022 in the U.S. At that time, it was the most easily spread strain to date and is able to evade immunity from COVID infection and vaccination. A booster dose was associated with a 74% reduced risk of hospitalisation in the first 2 to 4 weeks after vaccination, with the figure dropping to 66% 10 weeks or more after this dose. UKHSA will continue to designate new variants, and these will receive a variant number (in the format V-date-number). BA.2, also known as "stealth omicron," is considered a subvariant of omicron. BQ.1 (V-22OCT-01) is a BA.5 sub-lineage which has been designated on the basis of rapid growth. The first genomes of this variant were uploaded to the international GISAID database on 22 November. Our continued genomic surveillance allows us to further investigate variants that are growing within the UK. It is very likely that we will find more cases over the coming days as we are seeing in other countries globally and as we increase case detection through focussed contact tracing. The total number of confirmed cases in England is now 13. We are working as fast as possible to gather more evidence about any impact the new variant may have on severity of disease or vaccine effectiveness. While growth rates can be overestimated in early analyses of a new variant, the apparent growth advantage is currently substantial. The increasing prevalence of Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 is likely to be a factor in the recent increase in cases seen in the UK and elsewhere, though there is currently no evidence that Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 cause more severe illness than previous variants. There are no confirmed cases in Northern Ireland. Nine cases have also been identified in Scotland, with 5 cases in the Lanarkshire area and 4 in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde area. There is currently insufficient evidence to draw conclusions about growth advantage or other properties of this variant. You have rejected additional cookies. UKHSA analysis shows that the risk of hospital admission for an identified case with Omicron is reduced compared to a case of Delta. The newest COVID variant taking the world by storm is Omicron's stealthy sub-variant BA.2, and it seems to have brought on a new barrage of gastrointestinal symptoms with it. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has published analyses of Omicron sub-lineage BA.2. As of 24 January 2022, 1,072 genomically confirmed cases of BA.2 have been identified in England and all assessments remain preliminary whilst case numbers are relatively low. All age groups are affected, including the 75s and over, who are due a spring booster jab to top up protection. BA.2 Omicron Subvariant Can Damage Your Lungs, Cause More Severe Disease Than You Can Expect: Study BA.2 Omicron Subvariant Can Damage Your Lungs, Cause More Severe Disease Than You Can. The analysis included very small numbers of cases as only a few people in the UK currently have this variant, meaning this data should be interpreted with caution until more cases have been studied. A major ailment is not to be expected for the age group 20-50 years. Omicron sublineages BQ.1 and XBB have been given UKHSA variant designations to facilitate continued studies. This particular recombinant, XE, has shown a variable growth rate and we cannot yet confirm whether it has a true growth advantage. The BA.2 variant is a sibling of the BA.1, which swept across the country over Christmas. Professor Susan Hopkins, Chief Medical Advisor at UKHSA said: It is clear that the increasing prevalence of Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 are significantly increasing the case numbers we have observed in recent weeks. UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has published variant technical briefing 24. The total number of confirmed cases in England is now 29. More investigation is required to fully determine the extent of these mutations impact. Consider wearing a face covering when in crowded places. So, like the original omicron strain (BA.1), the primary symptoms of a mild BA.2 infection are a cough, fever, fatigue and possible loss of taste or smell. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has published the latest Variant Technical Briefing. We constantly assess the genetic diversity within the known variants of concern (VOCs) to inform our ongoing public health response to the pandemic. Early data shows that young children who are hospitalised experience mild illness and are discharged after short stays in hospital. Dr Jenny Harries, Chief Executive of the UK Health Security Agency, said: Viruses mutate often and at random, and it is not unexpected that new variants will continue to arise as the pandemic goes on, particularly while the case rate remains high. Vaccination is critical to help us bolster our defences against this new variant please get your first, second, third or booster jab without delay. An individual with Omicron is estimated to be between 31 and 45% less likely to attend A&E compared to Delta, and 50 to 70% less likely to be admitted to hospital. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) can confirm that 10 people have been hospitalised with the Omicron variant in England; the individuals were diagnosed on or before admission. Both are variants in the Omicron family. Infection rate corrected to one million infections a day. Vaccination is critical to help us bolster our defences against this new variant so please get your first, second, third or booster jab as soon as you are eligible to protect yourself, your families and your communities. The highly transmissible Omicron variant now accounts for half of the world's infections. Fourteen people are reported to have died within 28 days of an Omicron diagnosis, ranging in age from 52 to 96 years old. 8 Research published in April 2022 in The Lancet also found. BA.2 is estimated to account for approximately 93.7% of cases in England, with the highest prevalence in the South East (96.4%) and the lowest in the East Midlands (91.1%). The updated risk assessment includes indicators for infection severity in both adults and children. Experts in Kolkata say that BA.2 symptoms are mostly associated with abdomen and stomach instead of cough or shortness of breath. The same happened with Omicron, which includes the lineages BA.1, BA.2, BA.3 and B.1.1.529. UKHSAis carrying out targeted testing at locations where the positive cases were likely to be infectious. The percentage of people to have received a booster dose will also already be higher in older age groups and those with underlying health conditions due to prioritisation of the rollout so far. Its critical that anyone with COVID-19 symptoms isolates and gets a PCR test immediately. We use some essential cookies to make this website work. The latest UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) COVID-19 variant technical briefing, published today, includes updated epidemiological analysis which indicates that Omicron BA.5 has, as expected, become the dominant SARS-CoV-2 variant in the UK. ; The incubation time (time to onset of symptoms) is a bit shorter: 3 days. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has released variant technical briefing 50. Data for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is not included in the UKHSA Technical Briefing. These people are spread around the country and are a mix of age ranges between 18 to 85 years the majority had received 2 doses of vaccination. Dr Mary Ramsay, Head of Immunisation at UKHSA, said: These early estimates should be treated with caution but they indicate that a few months after the second jab, there is a greater risk of catching the Omicron variant compared to Delta strain. Hospital cases are also rising, but vaccines are still helping to stop many severe. Runny nose/congestion. UKHSA is constantly monitoring the situation and working to understand the implications for public health. Omicron BA.2 Variant Severity More evidence is needed to know whether this is due to changes in the virus behaviour or to epidemiological conditions. A further 16 cases have been identified in Scotland, bringing the total in Scotland to 29. They also say that Omicron symptoms are typically mild, and herd immunity is at . Data by variant related to intensive care unit admissions is presented and an analysis into the effect of the recent surge of Omicron cases in care homes is also available in the latest technical briefing. In England, the infection rate increased in those aged 25 years to 49 years and those aged 70 years and over in the week ending 21 February 2023. Face coverings in crowded indoor spaces and hand washing will help to reduce transmission of infection and are especially important if you have any respiratory symptoms. The latest number of COVID-19 cases with mutations consistent with B.1.1.529 in England are published on UKHSAs social media channels. The individuals that have tested positive and their contacts are all isolating. More detail will be available in UKHSAs regular variant technical briefings. [92] Reactions [ edit] Vaccine producers [ edit] However, some experts believe that BA.2 doesn't present symptoms different from the original Omicron. It is also vital to continue with all the other precautions we have become used to throughout the pandemic keep indoor areas well ventilated, wear a face covering in enclosed spaces, and take a rapid lateral flow (or LFD) test before a situation where you may be at high risk of catching or passing on the virus. "The symptoms of the Omicron variant, which includes the BA.2 lineage, and the Delta variant, are similar," says Dr. Erica Johnson, MD, the chair of the Infectious Disease Board of the .
