The updated risk assessment includes indicators for infection severity in both adults and children. More investigation is required to fully determine the extent of these mutations impact. We should all continue to test regularly with LFDs and take a PCR test if symptoms develop. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has published the latest Variant Technical Briefing. It is the best defence we have against this highly transmissible new variant. A runny nose, gastrointestinal issues, headache and a skin rash are other common signs and symptoms. Health and Social Care Secretary, Sajid Javid, said: We are learning to live with this virus and thanks to our world-leading surveillance system we can rapidly detect and carefully monitor any genetic changes to COVID-19. UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has published variant technical briefing 24. A BA2 variant's symptoms are similar to those of Omicron. Whilst the impact of these variants is uncertain, the variant classification system aims to identify potential risk as early as possible. Studies have already shown that this virus travels to different parts of the body, therefore gut-related issues are. Its critical that anyone with COVID-19 symptoms isolates and gets aPCRtest immediately. If you have symptoms take a PCR test and isolate at home until you receive a negative result. UKHSA is gathering scientific information as quickly as possible in order to inform the right balance of interventions to prevent transmission and protect lives. Therefore, although early suggestions are that individuals may be less likely to require hospitalisation, many more people are likely to become infected. This is early-stage analysis and we continue to monitor the data hour by hour. But at that point the sub-variant still appeared to account for less than one in 20 cases. An important question is whether BA.2 or BA.3 will become a new dominating "variant of concern". Case rates remain high throughout the UK and we must remain vigilant and take up vaccinations. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has identified 8 further cases of COVID-19 with mutations consistent with B.1.1.529 in England, in addition to the previous 5 confirmed cases of the SARS-CoV-2 variant known as B.1.1.529. However, it is not confirmatory as there are a number of other reasons that a sample might exhibit SGTF. This will include analysing live samples of the new variant in our laboratories to investigate properties such as response to current vaccines. 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. Fourteen people are reported to have died within 28 days of an Omicron diagnosis, ranging in age from 52 to 96 years old. 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. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has released variant technical briefing 50. The Omicron variant sub-lineage known as BA.2 has been designated a variant under investigation ( VUI-22JAN-01) by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). So far, vaccination means that the rise in cases is not translating to a rise in severe illness and deaths. This data shows that protection against severe illness from COVID-19 remains at over 90% in those aged 65 and over up to 14 weeks after a booster dose. 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. UKHSAwill continue to carry out laboratory and epidemiological investigations to better understand the characteristics of this variant. The Omicron variant of Covid-19 includes the lineages BA.1, BA.2, BA.3 and B.1.1.529. But the preliminary assessment found no evidence that vaccines would be any less effective against symptomatic disease for either sub-variant. Hospital admissions are increasing, and we cannot risk the NHS being overwhelmed. Vaccination is critical to help us bolster our defences against this new variant please get your first, second or booster jab without delay. UKHSA is monitoring the situation closely, in partnership with scientific and public health organisations across the world. UKHSA are continuing to monitor data on the BA.2 sub-lineage closely. The designation was made on the basis of increasing numbers of BA.2 sequences identified both domestically and internationally. BA.2 is estimated to account for approximately 93.7% of cases in England, with the highest prevalence in the South East (96.4%) and the lowest in the East Midlands (91.1%). Data for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is not included in the UKHSA Technical Briefing. 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. 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. 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. 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. This is very encouraging. In total, 40 countries have uploaded 8,040 BA.2 sequences to GISAID since 17 November 2021. We use some essential cookies to make this website work. People infected with Omicron are also less likely to experience fever or loss of taste and smell. It contains epidemiological data and updated analysis of COVID-19 variants currently circulating in the UK. 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. A runny nose, gastrointestinal. Two major BA.2 variant symptoms include dizziness and fatigue, as I wrote for the Deseret News. A total 637 cases of XE a recombinant of Omicron BA.1 and BA.2 have been confirmed in the UK so far. The pace of sharing sequences by India is very slow, median days from collection to deposition is 69 days according to GISAID. Please take up this offer as soon as you are eligible to protect yourself, your families and your communities. As of 18 July 2022, there were 24 cases of BA.2.75 in the UK. The technical briefing also includes early analysis of vaccine effectiveness against the Omicron variant compared to Delta. 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. 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. A growth rate potentially compatible with the eventual replacement of the current dominant variant. 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. More evidence is needed to know whether this is due to changes in the virus behaviour or to epidemiological conditions. The most common omicron-related symptoms are: Cough. 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. 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. Those mutations are shared with the original omicron, but BA.2 also has . Experts in Kolkata say that BA.2 symptoms are mostly associated with abdomen and stomach instead of cough or shortness of breath. 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. 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. 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. 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. Protection against hospitalisation from vaccines is good against the Omicron variant. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has identified 7 further cases of COVID-19 with mutations consistent with B.1.1.529 in England, in addition to the previous 22 confirmed cases of the SARS-CoV-2 variant known as B.1.1.529. 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. BQ.1 (V-22OCT-01) is a BA.5 sub-lineage which has been designated on the basis of rapid growth. 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. According to Boden-Albala said, those symptoms may include the following: Fever Chills Fatigue Cough Body aches Shortness of breath Sore throat Additionally, some people may report upper. 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. The areas with the largest number of confirmed cases are London (146) and the South East (97). Its not too late to catch up if youve missed boosters, or even first doses so please take your recommended vaccines. Experts say BA.2 symptoms don't seem to be all that distinct from original Omicron (BA.1) or the immediately preceding Delta variant. The individuals and their households have been told to self-isolate. UKHSAs new analysis examines 3 recombinants, known as XF, XE, and XD. 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 BA2 symptoms include taste loss. It is therefore absolutely critical that we all do everything that we can to help break the chains of transmission and slow the spread of this new variant. AstraZeneca was the main vaccine used early in the programme in care homes and among those in clinical risk groups. 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. 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 A further case has been identified in Scotland, bringing the total to 10. 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. 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. The most important thing everyone can do now is to get any vaccine dose that you are eligible for it is by far the most effective action you can take to protect yourself, your families and your communities. However, one must note, these are only early stage symptoms. "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. 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 analyses of Omicron sub-lineage BA.2. 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. What we know is that it is certainly growing as a proportion of overall cases in the UK. That contrasts to Denmark, where it has become dominant. We will continue to monitor this situation closely and recommend appropriate public health measures if needed. 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. UKHSA designated variant B.1.1.529 as a variant under investigation (VUI) on Thursday 25 November. Vaccine efficacy analysis continues to show lower effectiveness for symptomatic Omicron disease. This is more promising data which reinforces just how important vaccines are. Two-thirds with Omicron say they had Covid before. They say its possible that the virus has now changed its pattern and is affecting the stomach. BA.2, also known as "stealth omicron," is considered a subvariant of omicron. 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. UKHSA Chief Medical Advisor, Dr Susan Hopkins said: It is increasingly evident that Omicron is highly infectious and there is emerging laboratory and early clinical evidence to suggest that both vaccine-acquired and naturally acquired immunity against infection is reduced for this variant. Currently there are 18 UK samples in GISAID, out of a global total of 1,086; 639 samples have been uploaded from Singapore, and it is thought that XBB may be a factor in the recent spike in cases there. 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. What are the most common symptoms of Omicron BA.2? This includes analysing live samples of the new variant in our laboratories to investigate properties such as response to current vaccines. A separate UK study also found higher transmissibility for BA.2 compared to BA.1. Both have links to travel to Southern Africa. Further studies are underway in the UK and abroad. At this point it is not possible to determine where the sublineage may have originated. 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. Our continued genomic surveillance allows us to detect them and assess whether they are significant. Please make sure you follow all the available guidance. The total number of confirmed cases in England is now 29. Based on the reports from doctors treating the Covid variant and patients battling. 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. There will be no other categorisation of variants, including no variant under investigation (VUI) category. Data on this wont be available for several weeks. UKHSA is 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. No cases have been identified in the UK. 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. Thats why its critical that anyone with COVID-19 symptoms isolates and gets aPCRtest immediately. Neither have been designated as variants of concern by UKHSA. Previous variants of concern which no longer meet the criteria will be redesignated. What are the symptoms of BA.2? However, some experts believe that BA.2 doesn't present symptoms different from the original Omicron. 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. 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. Download the data.xlsx. Currently, no experimental data has been reported about BA.2 and BA.3. 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. 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 . BA2 Variant is overtaking Delta and Omicron Cases at rapid speed. The most commonly-reported symptoms with the original Omicron variant were cough, fatigue, headache, congestion, and runny nose. As we learn to live safely with COVID-19, there are actions we can all take to help reduce the risk of catching COVID-19 and passing it on to others. Wed like to set additional cookies to understand how you use GOV.UK, remember your settings and improve government services. 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. 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. We continue to monitor all recombinants closely, routinely through our world-leading genomic surveillance and sequencing capability. 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. They save lives and prevent serious illness. I urge you to come forward as soon as youre eligible to help keep yourself and your loved ones safe. If you develop any symptoms, isolate immediately and get a PCR test. . 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. So far there is not enough evidence to draw conclusions about transmissibility, severity or vaccine effectiveness. The total number of confirmed cases in England is now 13. SGTF is not a 100% accurate test for Omicron and results are regularly evaluated against sequencing to ensure they are interpreted correctly. Data and analysis will be released in due course through our regular surveillance reporting. However, a small change may be enough to cause a difference in the virus properties in some circumstances. In some countries, BA.2 accounts for more than half of sequenced Omicron cases, it adds. 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. In addition, UKHSA has published data which shows the detection of cases exhibiting S-gene target failure (SGTF) in recent weeks across the country. Overall, data shows significant reductions in neutralisation against several of the newly emergent variants (BA.2.75.2, BA.2.3.20 and BJ.1), compared to BA.2, BA.4 and the dominant BA.5. 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. Apart from dizziness and fatigue, some other signs of BA.2 Omicron Variants include: Fever and body aches Loss of taste Nausea or Vomiting Abdominal pain Fever Extreme fatigue Coughing Sore throat Muscular fatigue Elevated heart rate Breathless in severe cases readmore End of Story Nine cases have also been identified in Scotland, with 5 cases in the Lanarkshire area and 4 in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde area. 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. There is further data showing that effectiveness against symptomatic disease is significantly lower compared to the Delta variant, and wanes more quickly. All 3 subvariants have spike protein mutations of L452 and elude immunity from prior BA1 infection. Studiesof households and contactshave found that there is a higher risk of transmission to contacts from an Omicron case, when compared to Delta. 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. However, the preliminary data showed effectiveness against the new variant appears to increase considerably in the early period after a booster dose, providing around 70% to 75% protection against symptomatic infection.
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