ba 2 variant omicron symptoms

UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has published variant technical briefing 24. BQ.1 (V-22OCT-01) is a BA.5 sub-lineage which has been designated on the basis of rapid growth. At the moment there is much that is not yet clear. As is routine for any new variants under investigation,UKHSAis carrying out laboratory and epidemiological investigations to better understand the characteristics of this variant. Susan Hopkins, Chief Medical Adviser at UKHSA, said: The latest set of analysis is in keeping with the encouraging signs we have already seen. Here is what we know about it. 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. However, cases of the variant continue to rise at an extraordinary rate already surpassing the record daily number in the pandemic. One of the most common symptoms of the Omicron subvariant BA.2 is nausea. Check benefits and financial support you can get, Find out about the Energy Bills Support Scheme, National flu and COVID-19 surveillance report, higher risk of becoming seriously ill from respiratory infections, including COVID-19, this data should be interpreted with caution, This assessment is based on analysis of UK data, data on Omicron cases is published regularly here, Six cases of the SARS-CoV-2 variant known as B.1.1.529, Investigation of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern: variant risk assessments, Investigation of SARS-CoV-2 variants: technical briefings, Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance for local government, let fresh air in if meeting others indoors, wear a face covering or a face mask, particularly if you are in crowded and enclosed spaces. A thirddose was associated with a 68% (95% confidence interval 52 to 82%) reduced risk of hospitalisation when compared to similar unvaccinated individuals. More evidence is needed to know whether this is due to changes in the virus behaviour or to epidemiological conditions. Please take up this offer as soon as you are eligible to protect yourself, your families and your communities. 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. It contains epidemiological data and updated analysis of COVID-19 variants currently circulating in the UK. 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. 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. There are also hybrid strains, such as XE, which is a combination of BA.1 and BA.2 By Alex Finnis There have been recent reports of people who experience symptoms like those of viral meningitis, an inflammation of the brain and spinal cord membranes. I urge you to come forward as soon as youre eligible to help keep yourself and your loved ones safe. Early data shows that young children who are hospitalised experience mild illness and are discharged after short stays in hospital. Early analyses suggest an increased growth rate compared to BA.1, however, growth rates have a low level of certainty early in the emergence of a variant and further analysis is needed. It remains vital that anyone with COVID-19 symptoms isolates and gets aPCRtest immediately. BA.2 is believed to be far more contagious than the earlier Omicron strain, and was blamed for a fresh surge in Denmark. Therefore, although early suggestions are that individuals may be less likely to require hospitalisation, many more people are likely to become infected. What is the stealth omicron, or BA.2, variant? Dr Meera Chand, COVID-19 Incident Director at UKHSA, said: It is the nature of viruses to evolve and mutate, so its to be expected that we will continue to see new variants emerge as the pandemic goes on. Neither have currently been designated as variants of concern. They say its possible that the virus has now changed its pattern and is affecting the stomach. BA2 Variant is overtaking Delta and Omicron Cases at rapid speed. If you have any symptoms, take a test. It was designated a variant of concern (VOC) on Saturday 27 November. A preliminary assessment by UKHSA did not find a difference in vaccine effectiveness, although it said there was no data yet available on severity. Experts in Kolkata say that BA.2 symptoms are mostly associated with abdomen and stomach instead of cough or shortness of breath. All 3 subvariants have spike protein mutations of L452 and elude immunity from prior BA1 infection. Work from home if you are able to, wear a mask indoors around other people, and ventilate indoor spaces well. There is further data showing that effectiveness against symptomatic disease is significantly lower compared to the Delta variant, and wanes more quickly. In some places, growth in recorded cases of the sub-variant has been sharp. This analysis found that the risk of presentation to emergency care or hospital admission with Omicron (testing for symptomatic or asymptomatic infection) was approximately half of that for Delta, while the risk of hospital admission alone with Omicron was approximately one-third of that for Delta. What are the most common symptoms of Omicron BA.2? Wed like to set additional cookies to understand how you use GOV.UK, remember your settings and improve government services. We are particularly grateful to health protection specialists and the government of South Africa for early sharing of local information on the omicron variant in an exemplary way to support global health security. The following are the symptoms of this subvariant: The most common symptom is a sore throat that causes dryness, itching, and pain in the throat Low-grade fever Runny nose Sneezing Mild to moderate fatigue Headache Thats why its critical that anyone with COVID-19 symptoms isolates and gets a PCR test immediately.. This suggests that BA.5 is likely to become the dominant COVID-19 variant in the UK. We now know that BA.2 has an increased growth rate which can be seen in all regions in England. The vaccination status was unknown for 6 people, while 8 had received a single dose. These are potentially biologically significant mutations which may change the behaviour of the virus with regards to vaccines, treatments and transmissibility. However, UKHSA scientists say there is no room to be complacent. India is another country where BA.2 is rapidly replacing the Delta and Omicron BA.1 variant, according to molecular biologist Bijaya Dhakal. BA.2 attacking abdomen instead of lungs. The total number of confirmed cases in England is now 104. UKHSA has also published a breakdown of confirmed Omicron cases and SGTF cases by local authority. However, it should be noted both that this is early data and more research is required to confirm these findings. The individuals who have tested positive and their contacts are all isolating. Teams nationally and locally are working at pace to identify and trace all close contacts of every Omicron case. The latest Omicron SARS-CoV-2 subvariant, which scientists have labeled BA.2.12.1, is on track to become the most virulent strain in the United States currently. 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. More recent data on Omicron cases is published regularly here. 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 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. 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 urge these people in particular to get up-to-date. 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. 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. Studies have also shown that Omicron infects and multiplies in the upper airways 70 times faster than the previous Delta variant. Working alongside Cambridge University MRC Biostatistics unit, UKHSA analysed 528,176 Omicron cases and 573,012 Delta cases between 22 November and 26 December to assess the risk of hospitalisation in England after testing positive for Omicron. 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. 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. 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 . 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. Over 40% of hospital admissions were in London. Data for the devolved administrations will follow in due course. 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. Fourteen people are reported to have died within 28 days of an Omicron diagnosis, ranging in age from 52 to 96 years old. One individual diagnosed in hospital has sadly died. They could be strangers (for example people you sit next to on public transport) or people you may have regular contact with (for example friends and work colleagues). UKHSA are continuing to monitor data on the BA.2 sub-lineage closely. This designation means that data relating to BA.2.75 will now be reported separately from other BA.2 cases. 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.