It is also absolutely critical that we all do what we can to reduce transmission in the community so that we have time to administer as many booster doses as possible. Lower back pain. Two variants, CH.1.1 and XBB.1.5, appear to have a growth advantage in the UK. What is Omicron sub-variant BA.2? All we know about the symptoms and Dr Meera Chand, Director of Clinical and Emerging Infections at UKHSA, said: The reclassification of these variants as variants of concern reflects emerging evidence on the growth of BA.4 and BA.5 internationally and in the UK. We will continue to closely analyse all available biological, epidemiological and genomic evidence for any SARS-CoV-2 variant in the UK or internationally. 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 focused contact tracing. Download the data.xlsx. 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 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. 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. UKHSAs most recent variant technical briefing includes examination of a number of recombinant variants which have been identified in the UK, as well as updated epidemiological and genomic analysis of Omicron BA.2. Whilst Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 are in the early stages of growth in the UK, analysis of the available data suggests that they are likely to have a growth advantage over the currently-dominant Omicron BA.2 variant. 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. A detrimental change in biological properties (changes in transmissibility, severity or immune evasion) compared to the current dominant variant. The breakdown of cases by local authority is: The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has identified 9 further cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) with mutations consistent with B.1.1.529 in England, in addition to the previous 13 confirmed cases of the SARS-CoV-2 variant known as B.1.1.529. UKHSA designated variant B.1.1.529 as a variant under investigation (VUI) on Thursday 25 November. UKHSA is carrying out targeted testing at locations where the positive cases were likely to be infectious. The data suggests this risk is significantly reduced following a booster vaccine, so I urge everyone to take up their booster when eligible. Neither have been designated as variants of concern by UKHSA. 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. This is not an unusual occurrence and several recombinant SARS-CoV-2 variants have been identified over the course of the pandemic. 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. Cases are currently very high in the UK, and even a relatively low proportion requiring hospitalisation could result in a significant number of people becoming seriously ill. XBB.1.5 remains at very low prevalence in the UK, so estimates of growth are highly uncertain. Where variant information was available, the majority of intensive care unit (ICU) admissions from 24 November 2021 to 19 January 2022 had Delta infections. UKHSA has updated its stay at home guidance and non-household contacts guidance to reflect changes to self-isolation requirements for contacts of people who have been identified as a suspected or confirmed case of the Omicron variant of COVID-19. XBB (V-22OCT-02) is a recombinant lineage derived from 2 previous Omicron sublineages. BA.2 Symptoms, Protection and More: What We Know as Omicron Subvariant Runny nose (especially in combination with loss of smell) A runny nose is a universal sign of cold, flu and now COVID-19. Top of the list with a prevalence of 80. The omicron variant of the coronavirus was first detected in late 2021. We expect the vaccines to show higher protection against the serious complications of COVID-19, so if you havent yet had your first 2 doses please book an appointment straight away. 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. 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. 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. 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. We should all continue to test regularly with LFDs and take a PCR test if symptoms develop. 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. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) estimates that if Omicron continues to grow at the present rate, the variantwill become the dominant strain, accounting for more than 50% of all COVID-19 infections in the UK by mid-December. It is not clear where BA.2 originated, but it was first detected in the Philippines in November. Dizziness, Fatigue: Common symptoms of Stealth Omicron you - mint BA.2.75.2 Variant: What We Know About 'Centaurus,' Vaccines | Time It contains updated analysis on Omicron hospitalisation risk, vaccine efficacy against symptomatic disease from Omicron, and the COVID-19 reinfection rate. Hospital admissions are increasing, and we cannot risk the NHS being overwhelmed. 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. 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. The proportion of test results displaying SGTF has been very low in recent months but an increase has been observed in the past week. 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. Where individuals are identified as being a possible or probable case, their close contacts will be contacted and advised to isolate for 10 days and to take a test. "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. BA.2 Symptoms Doctors Are Seeing The Most Right Now - Yahoo! News Its critical that anyone with COVID-19 symptoms isolates and gets a PCR test immediately. All age groups are affected, including the 75s and over, who are due a spring booster jab to top up protection. It is one for the scientists to watch, rather than for the public to be alarmed about at this stage. What experts know about COVID-19 omicron subvariant BA.2 COVID-19 has not gone away, so it is also vitally important that people continue to follow the guidance. As of January 10 2022, 53 sequences of the BA.2 sub-lineage of Omicron had been identified in the United Kingdom. They say its possible that the virus has now changed its pattern and is affecting the stomach. One case is located in Camden, London, and one case is located in Wandsworth, London. Wear a mask in crowded spaces and, when meeting people indoors, open windows and doors to ventilate the room. . You have accepted additional cookies. Omicron BA.2: The 'stealth' variant could cause more 'severe' disease As always, the booster vaccine remains the best protection against infection. While specific symptoms to BA.2 are not yet available, the NHS lists the main symptoms for Covid-19 as: a high temperature a new, continuous cough a. 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. Neither BQ.1 nor XBB have been designated as variants of concern and UKHSA is monitoring the situation closely, as always. 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. The designation was made on the basis of increasing numbers of BA.2 sequences identified both domestically and internationally. Covid BA.2 Omicron variant: The key symptoms to look out for Positive tests with sufficient virus detected from people arriving in the UK are sent for confirmation through Whole Genome Sequencing, regardless of the presence or absence of SGTF. Can Nigeria's election result be overturned? The individual tested positive after travel to the UK and is linked to travel to Southern Africa. BA.2 Symptoms Doctors Are Seeing The Most Right Now Telltale symptoms for Deltacron, Omicron, and the BA.2 Covid variants Our findings suggest the current wave of Omicron infections is unlikely to lead to a major surge in severe disease in care home populations with high levels of vaccine coverage and/or natural immunity. This is to be expected and UKHSA is monitoring the situation closely. However, cases of the variant continue to rise at an extraordinary rate already surpassing the record daily number in the pandemic. So how worried should we be about this emerging variant? Whilst there are insufficient data to quantify either vaccine effectiveness or risk of reinfection in the UK exactly, the observed growth, case distribution and early analyses in both South Africa and the UK are consistent with some loss of immune protection against infection. However, it should be noted both that this is early data and more research is required to confirm these findings. The total number of confirmed cases in England is now 13. Xi Jinping is unveiling a new deputy - why it matters, Bakhmut attacks still being repelled, says Ukraine, Saving Private Ryan actor Tom Sizemore dies at 61, The children left behind in Cuba's mass exodus, Snow, Fire and Lights: Photos of the Week. 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. The total number of confirmed cases in England is now 5. 2 or Stealth Omicron causes. Where individuals are identified as being a possible or probable case of Omicron, their close contacts will be contacted and advised they are required to isolate for 10 days, regardless of whether they have been vaccinated or received a negative COVID-19 test result. 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. "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 . People aged 75 and over remain at particular risk of severe disease if they are not up to date with their vaccinations. 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. 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. 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). A total 637 cases of XE a recombinant of Omicron BA.1 and BA.2 have been confirmed in the UK so far. Thats why its so important that everybody, everywhere, takes simple steps to protect themselves from infection. ROCHESTER, Minn. The World Health Organization designated COVID-19 variant B.1.1.529, named omicron, a "variant of concern" on Nov. 26, 2021, and the first confirmed case in the U.S. was on Dec. 1, 2021. As of 18 July 2022, there were 24 cases of BA.2.75 in the UK. UKHSAwill continue to carry out laboratory and epidemiological investigations to better understand the characteristics of this variant. Cases have been confirmed through whole genome sequencing in all 9 regions of England. It remains vital that anyone with COVID-19 symptoms isolates and gets aPCRtest immediately. We will continue to monitor this situation closely and recommend appropriate public health measures if needed. New Omicron Subvariant Is Spreading in India, U.S. BA.2, a SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant, Explained - Health For some more vulnerable a third dose is available. 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. Omicron BA.2 lacks the genetic deletion on the spike protein which produces S-gene target failure (SGTF) in some polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, which has been used as a proxy for Omicron cases previously. Studiesof households and contactshave found that there is a higher risk of transmission to contacts from an Omicron case, when compared to Delta. At the moment there is much that is not yet clear. Congestion. UKHSAs most recent variant technical briefing can be found on GOV.UK. We use some essential cookies to make this website work. The public health advice is the same for all current variants. Twoto4 weeks after a booster dose, vaccine effectiveness ranged from around 65 to 75%, dropping to 55 to 70% at 5 to 9 weeks and 40 to 50% from 10+ weeks after the booster. However, increases in SGTF can give a useful early indication of variant spread. 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. A further case has been identified in Scotland, bringing the total to 10. Spector shared a list of symptom prevalence from people who had tested positive for COVID, most of whom were estimated to have caught BA.2, he said. This is consistent with analysis published yesterday by Imperial College London and the University of Edinburgh. 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. In the UK, 38 cases of XF have been identified, though none have been seen since mid February. A preliminary assessment did not find evidence of a difference in vaccine effectiveness against symptomatic disease for BA.2 compared to BA.1. According to the CDC, the Omicron variant spreads more easily than the original SARS-CoV-2 virus and the Delta variant. It is not unexpected to see new lineages and continued investigation is a normal part of the surveillance of an infectious disease. As previously published, data continues to show vaccine effectiveness against hospitalisation for Omicron remains high. There is still uncertainty around the significance of the changes to the viral genome, and further analyses will now be undertaken. This will include analysing live samples of the new variant in our laboratories to investigate properties such as response to current vaccines. 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. We now know that BA.2 has an increased growth rate which can be seen in all regions in England. Things you can choose to do are: The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has elevated the classification of the COVID-19 variants Omicron BA.4 and Omicron BA.5 to variants of concern (VOCs) on the basis of observed growth. Thats why its critical that anyone with COVID-19 symptoms isolates and gets aPCRtest immediately. UKHSA continues to monitor and study variants of SARS-CoV-2 closely and is working with academic partners to rapidly assess the significance of the lineages BA.4 and BA.5. 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. Whilst the impact of these variants is uncertain, the variant classification system aims to identify potential risk as early as possible. Work from home if you are able to, wear a mask indoors around other people, and ventilate indoor spaces well. Technical Briefing 34 contains further analysis on symptom comparison on Omicron and Delta. What is the stealth omicron, or BA.2, variant? Why Alex Murdaugh was spared the death penalty, Why Trudeau is facing calls for a public inquiry, The shocking legacy of the Dutch 'Hunger Winter', Why half of India's urban women stay at home. Omicron BA.2 Variant: 5 New Symptoms That Indicates You Are Infected In India, BA.2 is rapidly replacing the Delta and Omicron BA.1 variants of Covid, BA.2 was first detected in the Philippines, About half of new cases in Denmark are caused by BA.2, AOC under investigation for Met Gala dress, Mother who killed her five children euthanised, Alex Murdaugh jailed for life for double murder, The children left behind in Cuba's exodus, Zoom boss Greg Tomb fired without cause, US sues Exxon over nooses found at Louisiana plant. The BA.2 subvariant of Omicron, or the "stealth" variant, has been outcompeting the previously dominant BA.1 subvariant in several countries. After 2 doses, vaccine effectiveness was 9% and 13% respectively for BA.1 and BA.2, after 25+ weeks. UKHSA is gathering scientific information as quickly as possible in order to inform the right balance of interventions to prevent transmission and protect lives. As part of UKHSAs routine genomic surveillance, approximately 15 to 20% of all positive PCR tests are also sent for sequencing. Thats why its critical that anyone with COVID-19 symptoms isolates and gets a PCR test immediately.. According to the COVID Symptom Study, the five most common symptoms are the same: Runny nose, headache, fatigue, sneezing and sore throat. Ongoing analysis by UKHSA has found no evidence that infection with Omicron BA.2 results in a greater risk of hospitalisation, compared to Omicron BA.1. Well send you a link to a feedback form. Anewrisk assessment for OmicronVOC-21NOV-01 (B.1.1.529)has also been published and is available here. 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. BA2 Variant is overtaking Delta and Omicron Cases at rapid speed. A runny nose, gastrointestinal. A NEW Covid-19 Omicron sub-variant is spreading across Ireland and is the most infectious strain yet. As viruses mutate often and at random, it is not unusual for small numbers of cases to arise featuring new sets of mutations. While BA.2 appears to be more transmissible than previous variants, there is no data yet to suggest that it is any more severe. There will be no other categorisation of variants, including no variant under investigation (VUI) category. UKHSA analysis shows that the risk of hospital admission for an identified case with Omicron is reduced compared to a case of Delta. As we all work to limit the high levels of transmission of this variant over the Christmas period, we are urging people to test regularly, particularly before attending social gatherings. The pace of sharing sequences by India is very slow, median days from collection to deposition is 69 days according to GISAID. However, some experts believe that BA.2 doesn't present symptoms different from the original Omicron. The Top Symptoms of the BA.2 Variant, According to Doctors - Parade So far, vaccination means that the rise in cases is not translating to a rise in severe illness and deaths. Analysis from routine contact tracing data indicates that transmission is likely to be higher among contacts of BA.2 cases in households (13.4%) than those for contacts of other Omicron cases(10.3%) in the period 27 December 2021 to 11 January 2022. This includes analysing live samples of the new variant in our laboratories to investigate properties such as response to current vaccines. However, it is not confirmatory as there are a number of other reasons that a sample might exhibit SGTF. Covid Omicron symptoms: new variant BQ.1.1, duration, evolution In some countries, BA.2 accounts for more than half of sequenced Omicron cases, it adds. The individuals that have tested positive and their contacts are all isolating. Omicron BA.2 Variant Symptoms, Severity, Precautions, Mutation The risk assessment conducted by UKHSA together with academic partners found that CH.1.1 and XBB.1.5 are currently the variants most likely to take over from BQ.1 as the next dominant variant in the UK, unless further novel variants arise. This paper can be found as a pre-print, and the data is referred to in the latest vaccine surveillance report. BA.2 is found to be able to alarmingly reinfect patients originally infected by Omicron BA.1. 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. As of 2 May 2022, 21 confirmed cases of Omicron BA.4 and 19 confirmed cases of Omicron BA.5 have been detected in England. 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. Further information is also available in the latest variant technical briefing. 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. Omicron Subvariant - BA.2.75 | Narayana Health According to Denmark's Statens Serum Institut (SSI), BA.2 infections rose to account for about half of the country's reported Covid cases in January. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has released variant technical briefing 50. A thirddose was associated with a 68% (95% confidence interval 52 to 82%) reduced risk of hospitalisation when compared to similar unvaccinated individuals. Protection against hospitalisation from vaccines is good against the Omicron variant. Dont worry we wont send you spam or share your email address with anyone. 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. BA.2 has an increased growth rate compared to BA.1 in all regions of England where there are enough cases to assess it. moderate COVID-19 symptoms who are at high risk of . India is another country where BA.2 is rapidly replacing the Delta and Omicron BA.1 variant, according to molecular biologist Bijaya Dhakal. Self-reported long COVID after infection with the Omicron variant in 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. 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. Taste Lost is one of the Omicron BA2 Symptoms. Recent studies suggest that BA.2 has a. More evidence is needed to know whether this is due to changes in the virus behaviour or to epidemiological conditions. It was designated a variant of concern (VOC) on Saturday 27 November. Scientists in the UK and abroad are closely monitoring BA.2, a sub-variant of Omicron. We have now identified cases in the East Midlands, East of England, London, North East, North West, South East, South West and West Midlands. Read about our approach to external linking. The population rate of people becoming infected with Omicron after having previously contracted COVID-19 has increased sharply. However, vaccinated people are still less likely to get infected than unvaccinated individuals, and they are also less likely to pass it on. No cases have been identified in the UK. There are differences in the populations that have received different vaccines. Please wear face coverings in line with government guidance, let in fresh air when mixing indoors and wash your hands regularly. Prior infection is 44% effective at preventing future infection, increasing to 71% with 3 doses of the vaccine. A number of Omicron variants are currently circulating in England, many of which have acquired mutations which may produce a degree of immune escape. The total number of confirmed cases in England is now 29. BA.2 infections in Germany are also growing faster than BA.1 and Delta, according to Dr Meera Chand, Covid-19 director at the UKHSA. There will be a coprimary endpoint : Neutralizing antibody titers against the SARS-CoV-2 variant of most prominent public health interest according to pandemic evolution (among D614G, B.1.351, Omicron sub-variants BA.4-5, BQ1.1 and XBB or another recent variant) and against one of the variant targeted by the vaccines.

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