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. Booster doses also increase the protection against symptomatic and asymptomatic infection which will reduce transmission in the population. Whilst the impact of these variants is uncertain, the variant classification system aims to identify potential risk as early as possible. They also say that Omicron symptoms are typically mild, and herd immunity is at . 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. However, it should be noted both that this is early data and more research is required to confirm these findings. Thanks to very high levels of vaccine coverage we already have a robust wall of defence against COVID-19 as new variants emerge. As of 18 July 2022, there were 24 cases of BA.2.75 in the UK. Infection rate corrected to one million infections a day. Nine cases have also been identified in Scotland, with 5 cases in the Lanarkshire area and 4 in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde area. Experts in Kolkata say that BA.2 symptoms are mostly associated with abdomen and stomach instead of cough or shortness of breath. 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. Following the first 2 confirmed cases of the SARS-CoV-2 variant known as B.1.1.529 on 27 November, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has identified one further case of COVID-19 with mutations consistent with B.1.1.529 in the UK. 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. Fatigue. As with other kinds of variant, most will die off relatively quickly. The vaccination status was unknown for 6 people, while 8 had received a single dose. Get vaccinated and, for those eligible, come forward for your third or booster dose as appropriate as soon as you are called. While on one hand, this statement gives a ray of hope that BA.2 sub variant of Omicron which was thought to be severe is mild as the BA.1 subvariant is, but on the other hand with the report of . [92] Reactions [ edit] Vaccine producers [ edit] The data so far suggests an increase in overall reinfection rates, alongside an increase in first infections. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is reminding people to ensure their COVID-19 vaccinations are up to date and to continue following COVID-safe behaviours, as latest technical data indicates BA.4 and BA.5 have become dominant in the UK and are driving the recent increase in infections. Experts say BA.2 has extensive mutations and is about 40 percent more infectious than the original Omicron variant. The BA.2 subvariant of the COVID-19 virus is now the dominant coronavirus strain in the world, and while health officials are saying the subvariant acts like the original omicron version of the . 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. Runny or congested nose Feeling fatigued Headache New, continuous cough Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing Muscle or body aches New loss of a sense of taste or smell Sore throat Nausea or vomiting Diarrhoea They advise that if you develop one or more of these symptoms you should take a Covid test as soon as possible. BA.2 is believed to be far more contagious than the earlier Omicron strain, and was blamed for a fresh surge in Denmark. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has published a new variant technical briefing containing updated analysis on Omicron hospitalisation risk and vaccine efficacy against symptomatic disease and hospitalisation. This analysis is preliminary and highly uncertain because of the small numbers of Omicron cases currently in hospital, inability to effectively measure all previous infections and the limited spread of Omicron into older age groups. Runny nose/congestion. To date, there have been 426 cases of Omicron BA.2 confirmed by Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS), with the earliest dated 6 December 2021. New sub-lineages within Delta continue to be identified. New Omicron BA.2 variant symptoms - What we know so far - Yahoo Life UK What Is BA.2, the 'Stealth Omicron' Variant - Stealth Omicron Symptoms As is routine for any new variants under investigation, UKHSAis carrying out laboratory and epidemiological investigations to better understand the properties of this variant. Dr Meera Chand, UKHSA Director of Clinical an Emerging Infection, said: We continue to monitor the emergence of new variants and give them variant designations if they are sufficiently distinct to warrant separate epidemiological and laboratory assessment. Of those with Omicron, 9.5% have had COVID-19 before, which is likely to be a substantial underestimate of the proportion of reinfections, as many prior infections will have been asymptomatic and not picked up by the analysis. Dont worry we wont send you spam or share your email address with anyone. The Philippines' Department of Health (DOH) said the BA.2 sub-lineage was already prevalent in samples it received at the end of January. The latest number of COVID-19 cases with mutations consistent with B.1.1.529 in England are published on UKHSAs social media channels. Technical Briefing 34 contains further analysis on symptom comparison on Omicron and Delta. Hospital admissions are increasing, and we cannot risk the NHS being overwhelmed. The designation was made on the basis that this sub-lineage has become increasingly common in the UK in recent months, and there is some early evidence that it may have an increased growth rate in the UK compared to Delta. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has identified 2 further cases of COVID-19 with mutations consistent with B.1.1.529 in England, in addition to the previous 3 confirmed cases of the SARS-CoV-2 variant known as B.1.1.529 on 27 and 28 November. You have accepted additional cookies. The Omicron variant of Covid-19 includes the lineages BA.1, BA.2, BA.3 and B.1.1.529. Analysis shows that protection against symptomatic disease 2 to 4 weeks after a booster dose ranges from around 65% to 75%, dropping to 55% to 65% at 5 to 9 weeks and 45% to 50% 10 weeks or more following the booster dose. ; BA.5 sometimes gives rise to more marked symptomssometimes with digestive symptoms . The UKHSAs COVID-19 variant technical briefing 43, published today, includes epidemiological analysis that shows that Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 now make up more than half of new COVID-19 cases in England, accounting for approximately 22% and 39% of cases, respectively. Working from home where possible, consistently wearing masks in crowded or enclosed spaces, washing your hands regularly and isolating and getting tested if you feel unwell are also vitally important in reducing the impact of COVID-19 this winter. People suffering From the Omicron BA2 variant said they had fever and body Aches. BA.2 Symptoms Not That Different From Omicron, Delta. The designation was made on the basis of increasing numbers of BA.2 sequences identified both domestically and internationally. Studies have also shown that Omicron infects and multiplies in the upper airways 70 times faster than the previous Delta variant. Ba.2 Omicron Variant Symptoms - SymptomsTalk.net It includes a complete list of studies planned and already under way into the emerging variant. XBB (V-22OCT-02) is a recombinant lineage derived from 2 previous Omicron sublineages. The UK has been hard-hit by a further spike in Covid-19 cases in recent weeks, with infections being driven by a sub-lineage of the Omicron variant known as BA.2 or "Stealth Omicron". Take a vaccine to protect yourself against COVID-19. In its early days, the variant caused an alarming spike in COVID-19 cases in South Africathey went from 300 a day in mid-November 2021 to 3,000 a day at the end of that month. Please take up this offer as soon as you are invited to protect yourself, your families and your communities. The population rate of people becoming infected with Omicron after having previously contracted COVID-19 has increased sharply. Neither BQ.1 nor XBB have been designated as variants of concern and UKHSA is monitoring the situation closely, as always. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has published a new variant technical briefing describing ongoing work on the Omicron variant. Latest updates on SARS-CoV-2 variants detected in the UK. Everybody who is contacted or has symptoms should take a PCR test as soon as possible, even if they have received a positive COVID-19 PCR test within the last 90 days. 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. It appears to have a growth advantage compared to the version of Omicron, BA.1, that has swept the globe. It has since swept the globe, eventually vanquishing other variants including delta. UKHSA has also released a variant risk assessment for Omicron BA.4 and BA.5, summarising the emerging epidemiology and laboratory evidence. According to the COVID Symptom Study, the five most common symptoms are the same: Runny nose, headache, fatigue, sneezing and sore throat. As previously published, data continues to show vaccine effectiveness against hospitalisation for Omicron remains high. It is still too early to determine next steps, so please stay cautious this Christmas and get your booster as soon as possible to protect yourself and your loved ones. This is not an unusual occurrence and several recombinant SARS-CoV-2 variants have been identified over the course of the pandemic. The analysis shows that coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in the UK are primarily made up of BQ.1 and its sublineages, consistent with the UKHSA risk assessment published in October. The areas with the largest number of confirmed cases are London (146) and the South East (97). We have also learnt that BA.2 has a slightly higher secondary attack rate than BA.1 in households. What are the most common symptoms of Omicron BA.2? We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services. 1 case has been identified in Wales. 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. UKHSAs new analysis examines 3 recombinants, known as XF, XE, and XD. Anyone who is contacted because of a link to a probable or possible Omicron case will be asked to take a PCR test, even if they have received a positive COVID-19PCRtestwithin the last 90 days. While in the UK, the individual was in Westminster, London. BA.2 Omicron Subvariant Can Damage Your Lungs, Cause - TheHealthSite UKHSA is carrying out targeted testing at locations where the positive cases were likely to be infectious. SGTF is a useful indicator of the presence of Omicron, because as a rule Delta cases have the S-gene and Omicron cases do not. This analysis shows you are up to 8 times more likely to end up in hospital as a result of COVID-19 if you are unvaccinated. The team at ZOE, a study that tracks symptoms . 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. Although hospitalisations and deaths remain low, cases are still high in some areas and some age groups so its important that we continue to act cautiously as restrictions are lifted. What we know is that it is certainly growing as a proportion of overall cases in the UK. Download the data.xlsx. Teams nationally and locally are working at pace to identify and trace all close contacts of every Omicron case. There are insufficient severe cases of Omicronas yetto analyse vaccine effectiveness against hospitalisation, but this is more likely to be sustained, particularly after a booster. Coronavirus: There's a third variant of Omicron 'BA.3'; all about the Work is underway to identify any links to travel to Southern Africa. Continue to exercise caution. These are potentially biologically significant mutations which may change the behaviour of the virus with regards to vaccines, treatments and transmissibility. Its critical that anyone with COVID-19 symptoms isolates and gets a PCR test immediately. This is early-stage analysis and we continue to monitor the data hour by hour. SUMMARY : The basics of the Omicron sub-variant, the BA.5, which is currently the majority in France: BA.5 is more contagious than BA.2 (January wave), which was itself more contagious than BA.1 and even more than Delta (variant 2021). Please make sure you follow all the available guidance. Dr Jenny Harries, UKHSA Chief Executive, said: Our latest analysis shows an encouraging early signal that people who contract the Omicron variant may be at a relatively lower risk of hospitalisation than those who contract other variants. BA.2, a SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant, Explained - Health Omicron BA.2 Variant Severity Vaccination is critical to help us bolster our defences against becoming severely ill from this new variant please get your first, second, third or booster jab without delay. There have been recent reports of people who experience symptoms like those of viral meningitis, an inflammation of the brain and spinal cord membranes. The best way that you can protect yourself is to come forward for your first 2 doses of vaccine, or your booster jab and do everything you can to stop onward transmission of the infection. Immunogenicity and Reactogenicity of the Beta-variant Recombinant It is one for the scientists to watch, rather than for the public to be alarmed about at this stage. So far, there have been 717 V-22OCT-01 sequences uploaded from the UK to the international GISAID database. It is therefore vital that people continue to exercise caution in order to limit the transmission of the virus. UKHSA has also this week published further vaccine effectiveness data against hospitalisation following a booster dose. Dr Jenny Harries, Chief Executive ofUKHSA, said: We are continuing our efforts to understand the effect of this variant on transmissibility, severe disease, mortality, antibody response and vaccine efficacy. The first sequences were submitted from the Philippines, and most samples have been uploaded from Denmark (6,411). Added breakdown of cases by local authority to latest update. The technical briefing also includes early analysis of vaccine effectiveness against the Omicron variant compared to Delta. The analysis looked at 581 people with confirmed Omicron. Everybody who is contacted or has symptoms should take aPCRtest as soon as possible, even if they have received a positive COVID-19PCRtest within the last 90 days. One case is located in Camden, London, and one case is located in Wandsworth, London. Data and analysis will be released in due course through our regular surveillance reporting. News stories, speeches, letters and notices, Reports, analysis and official statistics, Data, Freedom of Information releases and corporate reports. New 'stealth' Omicron subvariant presents two NEW symptoms, experts At the moment there is much that is not yet clear. So how worried should we be about this emerging variant? People infected with Omicron are also less likely to experience fever or loss of taste and smell. These include a high temperature, a new. Omicron soon began branching off into a number of subvariants: BA.2 took off in the spring, and BA.5 came to dominate towards the end of the summer. ; An increase in new cases is being . Dr Susan Hopkins, Chief Medical Adviser at UKHSA, said: Hospitalisations always lag a few weeks behind infections, therefore it isnt surprising that we have started to see people being admitted to hospital with the Omicron variant. 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. Please make sure to wear a mask in line with government guidance, including on public transport and in shops, to help break the chains of transmission and slow the spread of this new variant. UKHSAs latest analysis suggests that Omicron BA.5 is growing 35.1% faster than Omicron BA.2, while Omicron BA.4 is growing approximately 19.1% faster. Please wear face coverings in line with government guidance, let in fresh air when mixing indoors and wash your hands regularly. Consider wearing a face covering when in crowded places. BA.2: A more contagious version of the Omicron variant has been In the most recent week of data (specimen dates from 30 November 2021 reported as of 6 December), the number of cases with SGTF has increased to 705. How are Covid rules changing across UK schools? What is the Covid BA.2 variant? Symptoms of Omicron sub-variant In some countries, BA.2 accounts for more than half of sequenced Omicron cases, it adds. The proportion of test results displaying SGTF has been very low in recent months but an increase has been observed in the past week. Due to the early nature of the findings, all estimates are subject to significant uncertainty and are subject to change. The total number of confirmed cases in England is now 5. A number of Omicron variants are currently circulating in England, many of which have acquired mutations which may produce a degree of immune escape. UKHSA will continue to designate new variants, and these will receive a variant number (in the format V-date-number). It remains vital that anyone with COVID-19 symptoms isolates and gets aPCRtest immediately. There is currently no evidence of community transmission within the UK. The omicron variant of the coronavirus was first detected in late 2021. If you have any symptoms of a respiratory infection, and a high temperature or feel unwell, try to stay at home or away from others especially those who are elderly or vulnerable.
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