Latest updates on SARS-CoV-2 variants detected in the UK. 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. This is early-stage analysis and we continue to monitor the data hour by hour. 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. 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. What We Know about Omicron's BA.2 Variant So Far In some countries, BA.2 accounts for more than half of sequenced Omicron cases, it adds. While growth rates can be overestimated in early analyses of a new variant, the apparent growth advantage is currently substantial. Continue to exercise caution. The public health advice is the same for all current variants. The total number of confirmed cases in England is now 13. 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. Hospital admissions are increasing, and we cannot risk the NHS being overwhelmed. 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. Omicron BA.2 (B.1.1.529.2): high potential to becoming the next What to know about omicron BA.2 variant symptoms - NBC News 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. Infection rate corrected to one million infections a day. Dizziness, Fatigue: Common symptoms of Stealth Omicron you - mint BA.2 Omicron Subvariant Can Damage Your Lungs, Cause - TheHealthSite 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. 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. The individuals and their households have been told to self-isolate. Added breakdown of cases by local authority to latest update. The World Health Organization has been monitoring SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes Covid-19) since January 2020, during which time the variant Omicron has been identified, which is technically known as BA.1 or B.1.1.529.The WHO is now monitoring a sub-variant of Omicron, known as BA.2, which has been described as "stealth Omicron," because it has genetic mutations that potentially make it . Typical meningitis symptoms include neck stiffness or pain, numbness, tingling, and sensitivity to light. However, it is not confirmatory as there are a number of other reasons that a sample might exhibit SGTF. Runny or congested nose Feeling fatigued Headache New, continuous cough Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing Muscle or body aches New loss of a sense of taste or smell Sore throat Nausea or vomiting Diarrhoea They advise that if you develop one or more of these symptoms you should take a Covid test as soon as possible. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has published the latest Variant Technical Briefing. Omicron has a deletion atposition69/70of the spike proteinwhich allows it to be tracked through S gene target failure(SGTF)in some PCR tests. The proportion of test results displaying SGTF has been very low in recent months but an increase has been observed in the past week. Fatigue. 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. 'Stealth' Omicron: What You Need To Know About The BA.2 Virus | Glamour UK It is therefore vital that people continue to exercise caution in order to limit the transmission of the virus. However, UKHSA scientists say there is no room to be complacent. The Top Symptoms of the BA.2 Variant, According to Doctors - Parade The updated risk assessment includes indicators for infection severity in both adults and children. There is evidence that protection against symptomatic disease wanes after the second dose of vaccine, and then improves after the booster. Omicron Sub-Variant BA.2: Symptoms, Differences, And Chances Of A further 3 cases have been identified in Scotland, bringing the total to 13. 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. moderate COVID-19 symptoms who are at high risk of . As of January 10 2022, 53 sequences of the BA.2 sub-lineage of Omicron had been identified in the United Kingdom. Studies have also shown that Omicron infects and multiplies in the upper airways 70 times faster than the previous Delta variant. These groups have been prioritised for booster doses since the start of the rollout in September to increase their protection. Data and analysis will be released in due course through our regular surveillance reporting. 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. This will include analysing live samples of the new variant in our laboratories to investigate properties such as response to current vaccines. Once again, we urge everyone who is able to get a booster jab to come forward and do so. 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. Omicron BA.4 and Omicron BA.5 were designated as variants of concern on 18 May on the basis of an apparent growth advantage over the previously-dominant Omicron BA.2 variant. The first sequences were submitted from the Philippines, and most samples have been uploaded from Denmark (6,411). This increased to 63% for BA.1 and 70% for BA.2 at 2 weeks following a third vaccine. Please take up this offer as soon as you are invited to protect yourself, your families and your communities. A thirddose was associated with a 68% (95% confidence interval 52 to 82%) reduced risk of hospitalisation when compared to similar unvaccinated individuals. The rapid spread of Omicron BA.2: What studies say - Medical News Today This designation means that data relating to BA.2.75 will now be reported separately from other BA.2 cases. Further information is also available in the latest variant technical briefing. The first genomes of this variant were uploaded to the international GISAID database on 22 November. That's because there could be cross-immunity - an infection with BA.1 could offer some protection against BA.2. We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services. UKHSA is monitoring this closely. 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. UKHSA will continue to monitor the situation closely as a matter of routine, as we do all data relating to SARS-CoV-2 variants both in the UK and internationally. Thats why its critical that anyone with COVID-19 symptoms isolates and gets aPCRtest immediately. If you develop any symptoms, isolate immediately and get a PCR test. A further 16 cases have been identified in Scotland, bringing the total in Scotland to 29. One case is located in Camden, London, and one case is located in Wandsworth, London. BA.2 Symptoms, Protection and More: What We Know as Omicron Subvariant Please also make sure to follow all Government guidance to reduce the spread of infection. One of the most common symptoms of the Omicron subvariant BA.2 is nausea. Both have links to travel to Southern Africa. It will take only 2 minutes to fill in. BA.3 shares most of its mutations with BA.1 and BA.2 except for one. Trends in SGTF over and time are however affected by the coverage of laboratories contributing to this surveillance data. Case rates remain high throughout the UK and we must remain vigilant and take up vaccinations. In its early days, the variant caused an alarming spike in COVID-19 cases in South Africathey went from 300 a day in mid-November 2021 to 3,000 a day at the end of that month. Coronavirus (COVID-19) latest insights: Infections There is still uncertainty around the significance of the changes to the viral genome, and further analyses will now be undertaken. 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. As always, the booster vaccine remains the best protection against infection. Early data shows that young children who are hospitalised experience mild illness and are discharged after short stays in hospital. In total, 40 countries have uploaded 8,040 BA.2 sequences to GISAID since 17 November 2021. While on one hand, this statement gives a ray of hope that BA.2 sub variant of Omicron which was thought to be severe is mild as the BA.1 subvariant is, but on the other hand with the report of . 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. In the age group of 20-50 years, significant severity is not expected. Runny nose/congestion. 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 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. In the UK, 38 cases of XF have been identified, though none have been seen since mid February. Even if a smaller proportion of these individuals require hospitalisation, these are still large numbers of people requiring hospital care and pressures on the NHS will increase. 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. In severe cases, the SpO2 Level may also decrease. Covid Omicron symptoms: new variant BQ.1.1, duration, evolution The odds of reporting long COVID symptoms four to eight weeks after a first COVID-19 infection were 21.8% higher after an infection compatible with Omicron BA.2 than Omicron BA.1 among adults who were triple-vaccinated when infected; this was after adjusting for socio-demographic characteristics and time since last COVID-19 vaccination. Omicron Subvariant - BA.2.75 | Narayana Health What are the symptoms of BA.2? So how worried should we be about this emerging variant? The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has identified 75 further cases of COVID-19 with mutations consistent with B.1.1.529 in England, in addition to the previous 29 confirmed cases of the SARS-CoV-2 variant known as B.1.1.529. 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. Omicron continues to grow faster than Delta, with an increased risk of transmission, particularly in contacts outside of the household. Thanks to very high levels of vaccine coverage we already have a robust wall of defence against COVID-19 as new variants emerge. UKHSA is constantly monitoring the situation and working to understand the implications for public health. ; An increase in new cases is being . There is currently no evidence of community transmission within the UK. Symptoms of BA.2 appear to largely mirror those of the original version of the omicron variant: an upper respiratory illness that causes sore throat, cough, congestion, headache and fatigue. A runny nose, gastrointestinal issues, headache and a skin rash are other common signs and symptoms. This particular recombinant, XE, has shown a variable growth rate and we cannot yet confirm whether it has a true growth advantage. Since then, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has classified two subvariants, BA.1.1 and BA.2. The genome of VUI-21OCT-01 does not have many mutations compared to Delta. BA.2, also known as "stealth omicron," is considered a subvariant of omicron. UKHSA are continuing to monitor data on the BA.2 sub-lineage closely. This is still a very small number of cases but is being investigated carefully to understand whether it is related to travel, any other variant or whether there is evidence of spread of Omicron beginning in the community. 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. There were very limited numbers of BA.2 in this study and no inferences can be made regarding BA.2. This analysis is not an assessment of hospital severity, which will take further time to assess. UKHSA has also published analyses related to the original Omicron strain BA.1. Runny nose. Other countries that have uploaded more than 100 samples are India (530), Sweden (181), and Singapore (127). March 31, 2022. UKHSA is carrying out targeted testing at locations where the positive cases were likely to be infectious. Its not too late to catch up if youve missed boosters, or even first doses so please take your recommended vaccines. And in England, more than 1,000 confirmed cases of BA.2 have been identified, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has published variant technical briefing 37. This is very encouraging. #India is another country where #SARS_CoV_2 BA.2 is rapidly replacing #Delta & #Omicron BA.1. 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. 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. It contains epidemiological data and updated analysis of COVID-19 variants currently circulating in the UK. There can be several reasons for growth advantage, but in the case of BA.4 and BA.5, laboratory data suggests a degree of immune escape which is likely to contribute. 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. 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. It is projected that if current trends continue unchanged, the UK will exceed one million infections a day by the end of this month. While BA.2 appears to be more transmissible than previous variants, there is no data yet to suggest that it is any more severe. New 'stealth' Omicron subvariant presents two NEW symptoms, experts An ad blocker has likely prevented this video content from loading. This suggests that BA.5 is likely to become the dominant COVID-19 variant in the UK. Effectiveness of first and second COVID19 mRNA vaccine monovalent Immunogenicity and Reactogenicity of the Beta-variant Recombinant It remains vital that anyone with COVID-19 symptoms isolates and gets aPCRtest immediately. As of 24 January 2022, 1,072 genomically confirmed cases of BA.2 have been identified in England and all assessments remain preliminary whilst case numbers are relatively low. The latest UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) COVID-19 variant technical briefing, published today, includes updated epidemiological analysis which indicates that Omicron BA.5 has, as expected, become the dominant SARS-CoV-2 variant in the UK. The total number of confirmed cases in England is now 5. Its critical that anyone with COVID-19 symptoms isolates and gets a PCR test immediately. We are continuing to monitor the data closely. More detail will be available in UKHSAs regular variant technical briefings. The individual is no longer in the UK, but UKHSA is carrying out targeted testing at locations where the positive case visited when they were likely to have been infectious. The risk assessment also suggests that Omicron displays a reduction in protection offered by having had a previous infection or vaccination. 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. Earlier COVID-19 variants affected the lung tissue more and had a higher likelihood of causing pneumonia and other severe outcomes. 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. We have now identified cases in the East Midlands, East of England, London, South East and North West. Vaccination is critical to help us bolster our defences against this new variant please get your first, second, third or booster jab without delay. For some more vulnerable a third dose is available. It is not clear where BA.2 originated, but it was first detected in the Philippines in November. Ba.2 Omicron Variant Symptoms - SymptomsTalk.net Wear a mask in crowded places, including public transport and shops, to ensure we all help break the chains of transmission and slow the spread of this new variant. Cases have been confirmed through whole genome sequencing in all 9 regions of England. 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. Please take up this offer as soon as you are eligible to protect yourself, your families and your communities. We urge these people in particular to get up-to-date. We should all continue to test regularly with LFDs [lateral flow devices] and take a PCR [polymerase chain reaction] test if symptoms develop.". Take a vaccine to protect yourself against COVID-19. The early observations for 2 doses of AstraZeneca are particularly likely to be unreliable as they are based on small numbers and are likely to reflect an older population and a population with more co-morbidities than those given the Pfizer vaccine. COVID & Gut Health: Why Are Omicron, BA.2 Causing More - TheQuint Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid said: This data is yet more evidence that vaccines remain our best line of defence against COVID-19. 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. There are simple things you can do in your daily life that will help reduce the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory infections and protect those at highest risk. 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. Whilst the impact of these variants is uncertain, the variant classification system aims to identify potential risk as early as possible. Both are variants in the Omicron family. Initial data suggests that LFDs are as likely to detect Omicron as other variants including Delta, which has been the dominant variant in the UK from May to December 2021. However, cases of the variant continue to rise at an extraordinary rate already surpassing the record daily number in the pandemic. A BA2 variant's symptoms are similar to those of Omicron. These are potentially biologically significant mutations which may change the behaviour of the virus with regards to vaccines, treatments and transmissibility. UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has published variant technical briefing 24. As viruses mutate often and at random, it is not unusual for small numbers of cases to arise featuring new sets of mutations. 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. Omicron Infection Timeline: Exposure to Immunity - Health 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. Now more countries, particularly in Asia and Europe, are reporting an increase in cases driven by BA.2. Analyses of sequenced SGTF samples has indicated that until mid-November, more than 99% of these were Delta cases. ; The incubation time (time to onset of symptoms) is a bit shorter: 3 days. And now, dizziness and fatigue are beginning to emerge as potential symptoms of the new sub-strain of Omicron, along with the original Covid symptoms. What is Omicron sub-variant BA.2? All we know about the symptoms and 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. You can change your cookie settings at any time. As set out last week, the effectiveness of all vaccines against symptomatic infection continues to be lower in all periods against Omicron compared to Delta. How are Covid rules changing across UK schools? They save lives and prevent serious illness. Our continued genomic surveillance allows us to detect them and assess whether they are significant. 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. Work is underway to identify any links to travel to Southern Africa. So far, there is insufficient evidence to determine whether BA.2 causes more severe illness than Omicron BA.1, but data is limited and UKHSA continues to investigate. 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. However, it should be noted both that this is early data and more research is required to confirm these findings. Of 5,153 individuals identified with an Omicron infection between 1 November and 11 December 2021, 305 were linked to a previous confirmed infection and had an interval from the previous positive test of 90 days or more. Taste Lost is one of the Omicron BA2 Symptoms. In a subgroup analysis of 4,800 people who were triple-vaccinated and infected with an omicron variant, the authors found that people with BA.2 were 64 percent more likely than BA.1-infected . Data for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is not included in the UKHSA Technical Briefing. Yet fears of another Omicron wave in the United States may be. The individuals that have tested positive and their contacts are all isolating. 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. BQ.1 (V-22OCT-01) is a BA.5 sub-lineage which has been designated on the basis of rapid growth. The data so far suggests an increase in overall reinfection rates, alongside an increase in first infections. Studies of contacts show that Omicron is transmitting more effectively than Delta. As of 20 October, there were 15,120 cases of VUI-21OCT-01 confirmed by whole genome sequences in England since it was first detected in July. Scientists in the UK and abroad are closely monitoring BA.2, a sub-variant of Omicron.
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