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Scratchy throat. 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. Work is underway to identify any links to travel to Southern Africa. Covid 4th wave: New BA.2 variant can impact stomach and intestine, say What Is BA.2, the 'Stealth Omicron' Variant - Stealth Omicron Symptoms There is currently insufficient evidence to draw conclusions about growth advantage or other properties of this variant. XBB.1.5 remains at very low prevalence in the UK, so estimates of growth are highly uncertain. A second BTN162b2 booster was previously found to be 52% and 72% effective in preventing Omicron BA.1 infection and hospitalization, respectively, in adults 60 years. 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. 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. The risk assessment also suggests that Omicron displays a reduction in protection offered by having had a previous infection or vaccination. 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. 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. Technical Briefing 34 contains further analysis on symptom comparison on Omicron and Delta. Both have links to travel to Southern Africa. The most affected local authorities are West Northamptonshire, where there are 49 confirmed cases and 68 SGTF, and Manchester, where there are 7 confirmed cases and 61 SGTF. The data suggests this risk is significantly reduced following a booster vaccine, so I urge everyone to take up their booster when eligible. If you develop any symptoms, isolate immediately and get a PCR test. Our data shows that getting the booster vaccine is more effective against this variant than 2 doses alone. 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. An ad blocker has likely prevented this video content from loading. Omicron Infection Timeline: Exposure to Immunity - Health Now more countries, particularly in Asia and Europe, are reporting an increase in cases driven by BA.2. Due to the early nature of the findings, all estimates are subject to significant uncertainty and are subject to change. This is not an unusual occurrence and several recombinant SARS-CoV-2 variants have been identified over the course of the pandemic. Coronavirus (COVID-19) latest insights: Infections For some more vulnerable a third dose is available. BA.2.75.2 as a new variant but singled it out as an . We have also learnt that BA.2 has a slightly higher secondary attack rate than BA.1 in households. Studies have also shown that Omicron infects and multiplies in the upper airways 70 times faster than the previous Delta variant. 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. 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. It has been designated a "variant under investigation" by British health authorities, meaning they are keeping a close watch on it, but are not overly concerned by it. Experts say BA.2 has extensive mutations and is about 40 percent more infectious than the original Omicron variant. What is Stealth Omicron? Symptoms of the Covid variant responsible for According to the COVID Symptom Study, the five most common symptoms are the same: Runny nose, headache, fatigue, sneezing and sore throat. At the moment there is much that is not yet clear. The guidance on vaccination is changing to help all of us bolster our defences in the face of this new variant. Our continued genomic surveillance allows us to detect them and assess whether they are significant. They save lives and prevent serious illness. Take a vaccine to protect yourself against COVID-19. Coronavirus: There's a third variant of Omicron 'BA.3'; all about the Those mutations are shared with the original omicron, but BA.2 also has . As of January 10 2022, 53 sequences of the BA.2 sub-lineage of Omicron had been identified in the United Kingdom. Vaccination is critical to help us bolster our defences against this new variant please get your first, second or booster jab without delay. We continue to urge everyone who is eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccine and booster. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly 99% of viral DNA submitted to the global GISAID database as of 25 January were identified as this sub-variant. A major ailment is not to be expected for the age group 20-50 years. There are thought to be subtle differences in the symptoms that BA. As viruses mutate into new variants, they sometimes split or branch off into sub-lineages. 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 insufficient severe cases of Omicronas yetto analyse vaccine effectiveness against hospitalisation, but this is more likely to be sustained, particularly after a booster. 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. As is routine for any new variants under investigation,UKHSAis carrying out laboratory and epidemiological investigations to better understand the characteristics of this variant. Omicron and its Subvariants: A Guide to What We Know 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. In the age group of 20-50 years, significant severity is not expected. What are the five main Omicron symptoms? - Open Access Government The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has published analyses of Omicron sub-lineage BA.2. I urge you to come forward as soon as youre eligible to help keep yourself and your loved ones safe. This new mutation dubbed BA.2.75 is concerning scientists because it appears to spread fast, bypassing the protection offered by COVID-19 vaccines and immunity from previous infection, the Associated Press reported Monday. More evidence is needed to know whether this is due to changes in the virus behaviour or to epidemiological conditions. New Omicron Subvariant Is Spreading in India, U.S. 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. Yet fears of another Omicron wave in the United States may be. A separate UK study also found higher transmissibility for BA.2 compared to BA.1. 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. UKHSA is updating its variant classification system to give a clearer indication of which variants have significant changes compared to the current dominant variant. While growth rates can be overestimated in early analyses of a new variant, the apparent growth advantage is currently substantial. Booster doses also increase the protection against symptomatic and asymptomatic infection which will reduce transmission in the population. Lower back pain. 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. Therefore, although early suggestions are that individuals may be less likely to require hospitalisation, many more people are likely to become infected. 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. Dr Meera Chand, Director of Clinical and Emerging Infections, UKHSA, said: Through our genomic surveillance we continue to see evolution of variants in the Omicron family. The most commonly-reported symptoms with the original Omicron variant were cough, fatigue, headache, congestion, and runny nose. However, it should be noted both that this is early data and more research is required to confirm these findings. Please come forward to receive your booster as soon as possible. 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. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has published variant technical briefing 37. It is not clear where BA.2 originated, but it was first detected in the Philippines in November. 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. Until we have this evidence, we must exercise the highest level of caution in drawing conclusions about any significant risks to peoples health. Covid: Rise in UK infections driven by BA.2 Omicron variant 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. BA.1 accounts for most of the cases. India is another country where BA.2 is rapidly replacing the Delta and Omicron BA.1 variant, according to molecular biologist Bijaya Dhakal. UKHSA encourage everyone to continue to follow the most up-to date guidance. 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. This includes analysing live samples of the new variant in our laboratories to investigate properties such as response to current vaccines. How are Covid rules changing across UK schools? COVID-19 variants identified in the UK - latest updates - GOV.UK 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. Latest updates on SARS-CoV-2 variants detected in the UK. Please take up this offer as soon as you are eligible to protect yourself, your families and your communities. 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. What is the Covid BA.2 variant? Symptoms of Omicron sub-variant UKHSA continues to examine all available data relating to SARS-CoV-2 variants in the UK and abroad. BA.2: A more contagious version of the Omicron variant has been Genome sequencing among the states is not always fair. pic.twitter.com/ESQupxUet4. We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services. All 3 subvariants have spike protein mutations of L452 and elude immunity from prior BA1 infection. The individuals who have tested positive and their contacts are all isolating. The total number of confirmed cases in England is now 5. The team at ZOE, a study that tracks symptoms . While signs remain encouraging on Omicrons severity compared with Delta, the high levels of community transmission continue and may cause pressures on health services. BA.2 attacking abdomen instead of lungs. However, some experts believe that BA.2 doesn't present symptoms different from the original Omicron. 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. 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. While in the UK, the individual was in Westminster, London. Earlier COVID-19 variants affected the lung tissue more and had a higher likelihood of causing pneumonia and other severe outcomes. Effectiveness of first and second COVID19 mRNA vaccine monovalent 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. The data so far suggests an increase in overall reinfection rates, alongside an increase in first infections. 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 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". Omicron BA2 symptoms include taste loss. As part of UKHSAs routine genomic surveillance, approximately 15 to 20% of all positive PCR tests are also sent for sequencing. And in England, more than 1,000 confirmed cases of BA.2 have been identified, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). Susan Hopkins, Chief Medical Advisor at UKHSA, said: This latest set of analysis once again demonstrates that a booster dose of the vaccine provides you with significant protection against hospitalisation from Omicron. Experts in Kolkata say that BA.2 symptoms are mostly associated with abdomen and stomach instead of cough or shortness of breath. 2. As previously published, data continues to show vaccine effectiveness against hospitalisation for Omicron remains high. But at that point the sub-variant still appeared to account for less than one in 20 cases. A preliminary assessment by UKHSA did not find a difference in vaccine effectiveness, although it said there was no data yet available on severity. BA.2.2 variant symptoms: What are the new COVID symptoms? - Deseret News The Top Symptoms of the BA.2 Variant, According to Doctors - Parade As of 20 December,132individuals with confirmed Omicron have been admitted to or transferred from emergency departments. 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 designation V-22JUL-01. Scientists in the UK and abroad are closely monitoring BA.2, a sub-variant of Omicron. The Delta variant sub-lineage known as Delta AY.4.2 was designated a variant under investigation (VUI) by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) on 20 October 2021 and has been given the official name VUI-21OCT-01. BA2 Variant is overtaking Delta and Omicron Cases at rapid speed. UKHSAis 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 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. Runny nose (especially in combination with loss of smell) A runny nose is a universal sign of cold, flu and now COVID-19. There is still uncertainty around the significance of the changes to the viral genome, and further analyses will now be undertaken. UKHSA is monitoring the situation closely, in partnership with scientific and public health organisations across the world. It remains vital that anyone with COVID-19 symptoms isolates and gets aPCRtest immediately. A total 637 cases of XE a recombinant of Omicron BA.1 and BA.2 have been confirmed in the UK so far. Follow the latest self-isolation rules if you develop symptoms wear a mask where required to do so, take regular LFD tests and observe good hand hygiene. It is projected that if current trends continue unchanged, the UK will exceed one million infections a day by the end of this month. It is vital that everyone over the age of 40 who is eligible for a booster jab comes forward as soon as possible to get increased protection against this new variant. 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. While prevalence remains high, make sure to wear your mask in indoor settings and take a lateral flow test before meeting others. BA.2.75.2 Variant: What We Know About 'Centaurus,' Vaccines | Time Cases have been confirmed through whole genome sequencing in all 9 regions of England. 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. 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. 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. UKHSA has also published a breakdown of confirmed Omicron cases and SGTF cases by local authority. B.1.1.529 has a large number of mutations in the gene coding for the spike protein, and also in other parts of the viral genome. UKHSA analysis shows that the risk of hospital admission for an identified case with Omicron is reduced compared to a case of Delta. Whilst the impact of these variants is uncertain, the variant classification system aims to identify potential risk as early as possible. After 2 doses, vaccine effectiveness was 9% and 13% respectively for BA.1 and BA.2, after 25+ weeks. The individuals that have tested positive and their contacts are all isolating. Until the week beginning 23 November 2021, the weekly count of cases with SGTF was routinely less than 150, making up less than 0.1% of all cases. However, any stay in hospital for a child is too long if youre a parent and its important we all take precautions to avoid the spread of infection. 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. Dr Susan Hopkins, Chief Medical Advisor for UKHSA, said: Ongoing variant analysis is an important part of our pandemic response. "We must remain vigilant and take up vaccinations. The BA.2 variant is a sibling of the BA.1, which swept across the country over Christmas. COVID-19 has not gone away, so it is also vitally important that people continue to follow the guidance. 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. 34 Subsequent studies that were performed in periods when a mix of BA.1, BA.2, BA.4, and BA.5 viruses circulated have reported low effectiveness of a second booster against . Omicron BA.2 Variant Severity Thanks to very high levels of vaccine coverage we already have a robust wall of defence against COVID-19 as new variants emerge.