2. More recent data on Omicron cases is published regularly here. The BA.2 subvariant has been referred to as stealth Omicron because it contains genetic mutations that can make it harder to distinguish from the . We constantly assess the genetic diversity within the known variants of concern (VOCs) to inform our ongoing public health response to the pandemic. The analysis looked at 581 people with confirmed Omicron. BA.2 variant symptoms: Spokane Regional Health District Health Officer Francisco Velazquez told KREM 2 News that the BA.2 variant of the omicron variant has some unique symptoms, too. Dr Jenny Harries, Chief Executive of UKHSA, said: We are continuing our efforts to understand the effect of this variant on transmissibility, severe disease, mortality, antibody response and vaccine efficacy. This designation means that data relating to BA.2.75 will now be reported separately from other BA.2 cases. It is not unexpected to see new lineages and continued investigation is a normal part of the surveillance of an infectious disease. They also say that Omicron symptoms are typically mild, and herd immunity is at . Of those patients admitted to hospital,17had received a booster vaccine, 74 people had 2 doses and 27 people were not vaccinated. The genome of VUI-21OCT-01 does not have many mutations compared to Delta. The two most reported symptom of patients infected by the Stealth Omicron variant is -dizziness and fatigue. Other countries that have uploaded more than 100 samples are India (530), Sweden (181), and Singapore (127). As we cautiously return to Plan A, I encourage you to give yourself and your loved ones the best protection possible and Get Boosted Now. UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has published variant technical briefing 24. This new UKHSA data on Omicron is promising while 2 doses of the vaccine arent enough, we know boosters offer significant protection against the variant and early evidence suggests this strain may be less severe than Delta. A booster dose for everyone over 18 years is now recommended and will be available at a minimum of 3 months from your last primary course jab. We have now identified cases in the East Midlands, East of England, London, North East, North West, South East, South West and West Midlands. The total number of confirmed cases in England is now 5. Everyone should complete a primary course as soon as possible for most this will be a first and second dose. Many people who have Omicron say it feels like a common cold, and here are the 8 early warning signs you need to look out for. BA.2 omicron symptoms According to the CDC, the symptoms of Covid-19, including BA.2, are: Fever or chills Cough Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing Fatigue Muscle or body. The population rate of people becoming infected with Omicron after having previously contracted COVID-19 has increased sharply. There are no confirmed cases in Northern Ireland. 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. Of these, 20 were in England, 3 in Scotland and 1 in Wales. What is Omicron sub-variant BA.2? All we know about the symptoms and This analysis is not an assessment of hospital severity, which will take further time to assess. A runny nose, gastrointestinal issues, headache and a skin rash are other common signs and symptoms. 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. As prevalence increases, its more important than ever that we all remain alert, take precautions, and ensure that were up to date with COVID-19 vaccinations, which remain our best form of defence against the virus. Data continues to show COVID-19 poses a very low health risk to children and infants. UKHSA Chief Executive, Jenny Harries said: I want to thank everyone who has been working globally and locally to help us act incredibly quickly in response to the Omicron variant. BA.2 has an increased growth rate compared to BA.1 in all regions of England where there are enough cases to assess it. AstraZeneca was the main vaccine used early in the programme in care homes and among those in clinical risk groups. Thanks to very high levels of vaccine coverage we already have a robust wall of defence against COVID-19 as new variants emerge. While in the UK, the individual was in Westminster, London. Because of a quirk in how it shows up in test results, we can see the numbers of suspected BA.2 doubled in the week up to 24 January. A study of 8,500 households and 18,000 individuals conducted by Denmark's SSI found that BA.2 was "substantially" more transmissible than BA.1. 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. It has since swept the globe, eventually vanquishing other variants including delta. The data once again shows that coming forward for your jab, particularly your third dose, is the best way of protecting yourself and others against infection and severe disease. Two variants, CH.1.1 and XBB.1.5, appear to have a growth advantage in the UK. For example, there are still a small number of cases of other variants, such as Alpha, in the UK which would also result in S-gene dropout or there is a lower amount of virus present in the sample where S-gene dropout cannot be confirmed. Fourteen people are reported to have died within 28 days of an Omicron diagnosis, ranging in age from 52 to 96 years old. That contrasts to Denmark, where it has become dominant. What are the five main Omicron symptoms? - Open Access Government There are small numbers of cases in the UK and this designation is intended to allow investigation into the specific properties of this variant. We continue to urge everyone who is eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccine and booster. 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. This particular recombinant, XE, has shown a variable growth rate and we cannot yet confirm whether it has a true growth advantage. The latest data confirmed that among those who had received 2 doses of AstraZeneca, there was no effect against Omicron from 20 weeks after the second dose. Hospital admissions are increasing, and we cannot risk the NHS being overwhelmed. As of 30 November 2021, there are 22 confirmed cases of Omicron (B.1.1.529), identified through sequencing or genotyping in England. moderate COVID-19 symptoms who are at high risk of . As of 17 May, 115 cases of BA.4 and 80 cases of BA.5 have been confirmed in England and the latest UKHSA variant technical briefing has been published today. As of January 10 2022, 53 sequences of the BA.2 sub-lineage of Omicron had been identified in the United Kingdom. Two-thirds with Omicron say they had Covid before. There is insufficient data to make any assessment of protection against severe disease, or to assess the severity of illness caused by Omicron. The B.1.1.529variant includes a large number of spike protein mutations as well as mutations in other parts of the viral genome. An ad blocker has likely prevented this video content from loading. Neither have currently been designated as variants of concern. Thanks to the expertise of scientists at UKHSA and partner organisations, were able to respond quickly to new variations of the virus. It is therefore vital that people continue to exercise caution in order to limit the transmission of the virus. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has published a new variant technical briefing containing an updated Omicron risk assessment, alongside analysis on vaccine efficacy, sub-lineages and symptoms. A booster dose for everyone over 18 years is now recommended and will be available at a minimum of 3 months from your last primary course jab. BA.2 continues to demonstrate a substantial growth advantage. 'Stealth' Omicron: What You Need To Know About The BA.2 Virus | Glamour UK Please take up this offer as soon as you are eligible to protect yourself, your families and your communities. Omicron BA.2.75, the variant derived from the BA.2 lineage which was identified internationally earlier this month, has now been categorised as a separate variant and given the. People infected with Omicron are also less likely to experience fever or loss of taste and smell. Experts say BA.2 has extensive mutations and is about 40 percent more infectious than the original Omicron variant. 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 individuals that have tested positive and their contacts are all isolating. The individuals and their households have been told to self-isolate. I urge you to come forward as soon as youre eligible to help keep yourself and your loved ones safe. UKHSA designated variant B.1.1.529 as a variant under investigation (VUI) on Thursday 25 November. Data for the devolved administrations will follow in due course. Typical meningitis symptoms include neck stiffness or pain, numbness, tingling, and sensitivity to light. And in England, more than 1,000 confirmed cases of BA.2 have been identified, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). What Are the Symptoms of the COVID BA. 2 Variant? Your Questions Following the change in JCVI advice earlier this week, a booster dose for everyone over 18 years is now recommended and will be available at a minimum of 3 months from your last primary course jab. Updated analysisshows theadditional incremental benefit from each vaccine exposureincluding for boosters, even in those who have had prior infection. The assessment suggests that Omicron is displaying a significant growth advantage over Delta, meaning that it is likely to outcompete Delta in the UK and become the dominant variant. Vaccination remains our best defence against future COVID-19 waves, so it is still as important as ever that people come take up all the doses for which they are eligible as soon as possible. One study has suggested that it may be difficult to identify this variant . But the latest data suggests this extra protection starts to wane more rapidly, being about 15 to 25% lower from 10 weeks after the booster dose. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has published the latest Variant Technical Briefing. As with any other coronavirus (COVID-19) variant, the vast majority do not confer any advantage to the virus and die out relatively quickly. Telltale symptoms for Deltacron, Omicron, and the BA.2 Covid variants Omicron symptoms: What we know about illness caused by the new subvariants Data on this wont be available for several weeks. Well be undertaking further analysis to investigate the small rise in the number of children admitted to hospital but currently coronavirus (COVID-19) poses a very low health risk to children and infants. The earliest of these has a specimen date of 19 January 2022. No cases have been identified in the UK. However, confidence levels for severity indicators for children are low because further analysis is required to compare the risk of hospitalisation between Omicron and Delta, and to assess the clinical nature of illness in children. 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. 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. A major ailment is not to be expected for the age group 20-50 years. Well send you a link to a feedback form. The technical briefing also includes early analysis of vaccine effectiveness against the Omicron variant compared to Delta. The COVID Omicron sub-variant BA.2, informally dubbed the "Stealth Omicron" variant, is able to reinfect people who have already had Omicron, a new study suggests. Available data are limited at this early stage, but it remains likely that the cases identified so far are a result of a number of separate introductions into the country. Its not too late to catch up if youve missed boosters, or even first doses so please take your recommended vaccines. This suggests that, as immunity begins to wane, these newly emerging BA.2 variants may fuel future waves of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Neither have been designated as variants of concern by UKHSA. We have seen a rise in hospital admissions in line with community infections but vaccinations are continuing to keep ICU admissions and deaths at low levels. Thats why its critical that anyone with COVID-19 symptoms isolates and gets a PCR test immediately. The highly transmissible Omicron variant now accounts for half of the world's infections. 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. UKHSA is carrying out targeted testing at locations where the positive cases were likely to be infectious. However, cases of the variant continue to rise at an extraordinary rate already surpassing the record daily number in the pandemic. You have accepted additional cookies. Neutralisation studies are currently being undertaken at the University of Oxford. Since then, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has classified two subvariants, BA.1.1 and BA.2. 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. These changes will take effect as of 1 April 2022 and will be reflected in full in future technical briefings. Yet fears of another Omicron wave in the United States may be. 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. In the UK, 38 cases of XF have been identified, though none have been seen since mid February. Where individualsare suspected or confirmed to have theOmicron variantas the result of testing, their close contacts will be contacted by NHS Test and Trace, required to self-isolate and asked to take aPCRtest,regardless of whether they have been vaccinated. More evidence is needed to know whether this is due to changes in the virus behaviour or to epidemiological conditions. It is already the dominant variant in several states and likely drove the country's recent third wave of infections. 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". Our exceptional vaccine rollout means the number of people severely affected by COVID-19 is low, and the UKs innovation and research has discovered life-saving treatments for those most at risk from COVID-19. UKHSA, in partnership with scientific bodies across the globe, is constantly monitoring the status of SARS-CoV-2 variants as they emerge and develop worldwide. There are thought to be subtle differences in the symptoms that BA. Previous updates were published by Public Health England. ; The incubation time (time to onset of symptoms) is a bit shorter: 3 days. It was designated a variant of concern (VOC) on Saturday 27 November. It remains vital that anyone with COVID-19 symptoms isolates and gets aPCRtest immediately. Please take up this offer as soon as you are eligible to protect yourself, your families and your communities. Our data also show that 17.5 per cent of people aged 75 years and over have not had a vaccine within the past six months, putting them more at risk of severe disease. The worst symptom is a "throat on fire," said University of California, San Francisco's Dr. Peter Chin-Hong. There are indications of a small rise in children admitted to hospital, but these early signals need further investigations before we can draw any conclusions about whether Omicron causes more severe illness in children. UKHSAs latest National flu and COVID-19 surveillance report indicates that the increase in COVID-19 case rates and hospitalisations continues to show signs of slowing. Hospital cases are also rising, but vaccines are still helping to stop many severe. UKHSA has also released a variant risk assessment for Omicron BA.4 and BA.5, summarising the emerging epidemiology and laboratory evidence. "Looking at other countries where BA.2 is now overtaking, we're not seeing any higher bumps in hospitalisation than expected," the WHO's Dr Boris Pavlin says. There is currently insufficient evidence to draw conclusions about growth advantage or other properties of this variant. 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 full document and underlying data is available on GOV.UK. This increased to 63% for BA.1 and 70% for BA.2 at 2 weeks following a third vaccine. We should all continue to test regularly with LFDs and take a PCR test if symptoms develop. An important question is whether BA.2 or BA.3 will become a new dominating "variant of concern". Dr Meera Chand, Director of Clinical and Emerging Infection at UKHSA, said: It is not unexpected to see new variants of SARS-CoV-2 emerge. This edition includes an update on the current circulating lineages, including several cases of Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 which have been detected in the UK. 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. The data so far suggests an increase in overall reinfection rates, alongside an increase in first infections. Dont worry we wont send you spam or share your email address with anyone. 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. 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.