In severe cases, the SpO2 Level may also decrease. 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. The individuals that have tested positive are not connected to each other and are not linked to the previously confirmed cases. One individual diagnosed in hospital has sadly died. As I previously reported, omicron subvariants have a shorter incubation period, which is why the symptoms may appear earlier. 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 . 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 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 There is currently no evidence of community transmission within the UK. Of those patients admitted to hospital,17had received a booster vaccine, 74 people had 2 doses and 27 people were not vaccinated. 2023 BBC. A BA2 variant's symptoms are similar to those of Omicron. In the UK, 38 cases of XF have been identified, though none have been seen since mid February. The data suggests this risk is significantly reduced following a booster vaccine, so I urge everyone to take up their booster when eligible. 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. This suggests that BA.5 is likely to become the dominant COVID-19 variant in the UK. 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. The latest variant technical briefing suggests that Omicron continues to grow rapidly in all regions of England as measured by confirmed cases and S gene target failure (SGTF). The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has announced the emerging SARS-CoV-2 variant known as B.1.1.529 as a variant under investigation (VUI). Dont worry we wont send you spam or share your email address with anyone. The team at ZOE, a study that tracks symptoms . UKHSA will continue to designate new variants, and these will receive a variant number (in the format V-date-number). #India is another country where #SARS_CoV_2 BA.2 is rapidly replacing #Delta & #Omicron BA.1. 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. I urge you to come forward as soon as youre eligible to help keep yourself and your loved ones safe. 1 case has been identified in Wales. Getting your booster jab remains the most effective way of protecting yourself and others from infection and severe disease. The areas with the largest number of confirmed cases are London (146) and the South East (97). The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has published its latest COVID-19 variant technical briefing. 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. While there is a suggestion that this wanes slightly after 15 weeks, protection in this age group remains high at over 85%. We have now identified cases in the East Midlands, East of England, London, North East, North West, South East, South West and West Midlands. The individuals who have tested positive and their contacts are all isolating. It has since swept the globe, eventually vanquishing other variants including delta. 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. 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. There is no data to suggest that BA.2 leads to more severe disease than previous Omicron sub-variants. Hospital admissions are increasing, and we cannot risk the NHS being overwhelmed. Getty Images BA.2 was. The latest data confirmed that among those who had received 2 doses of AstraZeneca, there was no effect against Omicron from 20 weeks after the second dose. The latest number of COVID-19 cases with mutations consistent with B.1.1.529 in England are published on UKHSAs social media channels. Vaccine efficacy analysis continues to show lower effectiveness for symptomatic Omicron disease. Vaccine effectiveness against severe disease from Omicron is not yet known but is expected to be significantly higher than protection against symptomatic disease. Any variants showing evidence of spread are rapidly assessed. The designation was made on the basis that this sub-lineage has become increasingly common in the UK in recent months, and there is some early evidence that it may have an increased growth rate in the UK compared to Delta. The omicron variant of the coronavirus was first detected in late 2021. There are no confirmed cases in Northern Ireland. 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. As with other kinds of variant, most will die off relatively quickly. 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. The B.1.1.529variant includes a large number of spike protein mutations as well as mutations in other parts of the viral genome. However, with the spread of BA.4 and BA.5, that symptom seems to have returned, some doctors note. 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. Everyone should complete a primary course as soon as possible for most this will be a first and second dose. It is not clear where BA.2 originated, but it was first detected in the Philippines in November. "We must remain vigilant and take up vaccinations. We continue to urge everyone who is eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccine and booster. 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. And even if it does become the dominant version of Omicron, it may not actually alter the trajectory of the pandemic in countries that have seen a big wave of BA.1. Six cases of the SARS-CoV-2 variant known as B.1.1.529 have also been identified in Scotland, with 4 cases in the Lanarkshire area and 2 in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde area. UKHSA has also released a variant risk assessment for Omicron BA.4 and BA.5, summarising the emerging epidemiology and laboratory evidence. We will continue to monitor this situation closely and recommend appropriate public health measures if needed. 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. We have also learnt that BA.2 has a slightly higher secondary attack rate than BA.1 in households. What is the stealth omicron, or BA.2, variant? In the last week, VUI-21OCT-01 accounted for approximately 6% of all Delta cases. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has published the latest Variant Technical Briefing. These are some of the symptoms that you should be looking out for: High temperature. Experts say BA.2 symptoms don't seem to be all that distinct from original Omicron (BA.1) or the immediately preceding Delta variant. BA.3 shares most of its mutations with BA.1 and BA.2 except for one. 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. People infected with Omicron are also less likely to experience fever or loss of taste and smell. They say its possible that the virus has now changed its pattern and is affecting the stomach. 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. 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. Please take up this offer as soon as you are eligible to protect yourself, your families and your communities. 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. All 3 subvariants have spike protein mutations of L452 and elude immunity from prior BA1 infection. India is another country where BA.2 is rapidly replacing the Delta and Omicron BA.1 variant, according to molecular biologist Bijaya Dhakal. 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. Neutralisation studies are currently being undertaken at the University of Oxford. As of 30 November 2021, there are 22 confirmed cases of Omicron (B.1.1.529), identified through sequencing or genotyping in England. 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). The highly transmissible Omicron variant now accounts for half of the world's infections. Two variants, CH.1.1 and XBB.1.5, appear to have a growth advantage in the UK. 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. 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. This increased to 63% for BA.1 and 70% for BA.2 at 2 weeks following a third vaccine. To date, there have been 426 cases of Omicron BA.2 confirmed by Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS), with the earliest dated 6 December 2021. 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. 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. "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. 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. UKHSA designated variant B.1.1.529 as a variant under investigation (VUI) on Thursday 25 November. It is therefore vital that people continue to exercise caution in order to limit the transmission of the virus. However, vaccinated people are still less likely to get infected than unvaccinated individuals, and they are also less likely to pass it on. 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. 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 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. Omicron BA2 symptoms include taste loss. But it is worth noting that Denmark has seen similar trends in terms of hospital admissions and intensive care as the UK has, suggesting BA.2 does not mark a sea-change in severity. The BA.2 variant is a sibling of the BA.1, which swept across the country over Christmas. XD has not been identified in the UK to date, though 49 cases have been reported to global databases, the majority of these are in France. Data by variant related to intensive care unit admissions is presented and an analysis into the effect of the recent surge of Omicron cases in care homes is also available in the latest technical briefing. Vaccination is critical to help us bolster our defences against this new variant please get your first, second or booster jab without delay. 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. Thats why its critical that anyone with COVID-19 symptoms isolates and gets aPCRtest immediately. This designation means that data relating to BA.2.75 will now be reported separately from other BA.2 cases. 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. When combined with VE against symptomatic disease, the reduced risk of hospitalisation climbed to 92% 2 to 4 weeks after a third dose of the vaccine, down to 83% after 10 weeks or more. BA.2 Omicron Subvariant Can Damage Your Lungs, Cause More Severe Disease Than You Can Expect: Study BA.2 Omicron Subvariant Can Damage Your Lungs, Cause More Severe Disease Than You Can. COVID-19 has not gone away, so it is also vitally important that people continue to follow the guidance. For the first time, this data includes analysis on vaccine effectiveness 15+ weeks after the booster dose. A further 16 cases have been identified in Scotland, bringing the total in Scotland to 29. We now know that BA.2 has an increased growth rate which can be seen in all regions in England. The UKHSAs COVID-19 variant technical briefing 43, published today, includes epidemiological analysis that shows that Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 now make up more than half of new COVID-19 cases in England, accounting for approximately 22% and 39% of cases, respectively. There were very limited numbers of BA.2 in this study and no inferences can be made regarding BA.2. The individuals that have tested positive and their contacts are all isolating. While growth rates can be overestimated in early analyses of a new variant, the apparent growth advantage is currently substantial. A NEW Covid-19 Omicron sub-variant is spreading across Ireland and is the most infectious strain yet. 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. 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. Currently, approximately half of all tests conducted in the UK are able to detect SGTF. 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. However, it should serve as objective evidence that this pandemic is not over. 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. Take a vaccine to protect yourself against COVID-19. Genome sequencing among the states is not always fair. pic.twitter.com/ESQupxUet4. Updated analysisshows theadditional incremental benefit from each vaccine exposureincluding for boosters, even in those who have had prior infection. The majority of these cases are located in London and the South East. UKHSAreleases weekly updates on the number of confirmed new cases of variants of concern and variants under investigation identified in the UK. This is more promising data which reinforces just how important vaccines are. BA.2 has been under close . People aged 75 and over remain at particular risk of severe disease if they are not up to date with their vaccinations. We urge these people in particular to get up-to-date. 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. As of 18 July 2022, there were 24 cases of BA.2.75 in the UK. Increased case detection through focused contact tracing has led to more cases of the Omicron variant being identified and confirmed, as we have seen in other countries globally. The total number of confirmed cases in England is now 29. 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. The best way that you can protect yourself is to come forward for your first 2 doses of vaccine, or your booster jab and do everything you can to stop onward transmission of the infection. You have rejected additional cookies. BA.2, also coined as the "stealth" variant, is a relative of Omicron's original variant, BA.1, which tore through the Australian community over Christmas and the New Year period.
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