SGTF is not a 100% accurate test for Omicron and results are regularly evaluated against sequencing to ensure they are interpreted correctly. UKHSA is carrying out targeted testing at locations where the positive cases were likely to be infectious. UKHSA is carrying out targeted testing at locations where the positive cases were likely to be infectious. What are the symptoms of BA.2? 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. The five most common symptoms of Omicron are: runny nose;. You can change your cookie settings at any time. Please make sure you follow all the available guidance. There will be no other categorisation of variants, including no variant under investigation (VUI) category. Data for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is not included in the UKHSA Technical Briefing. The first genomes of this variant were uploaded to the international GISAID database on 22 November. 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. 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. 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. We should all continue to test regularly with LFDs and take a PCR test if symptoms develop. 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. Please come forward to receive your booster as soon as possible. By the summer of 2022, the BA.5 variant was the most dominant strain in the US. So far, there have been 717 V-22OCT-01 sequences uploaded from the UK to the international GISAID database. Further information is also available in the latest variant technical briefing. This analysis is preliminary and highly uncertain because of the small numbers of Omicron cases currently in hospital, inability to effectively measure all previous infections and the limited spread of Omicron into older age groups. Please take up this offer as soon as you are eligible to protect yourself, your families and your communities. The BA.2 subvariant of Omicron, or the "stealth" variant, has been outcompeting the previously dominant BA.1 subvariant in several countries. Overall numbers of ICU admissions have decreased over time, but where data was available admissions with Omicron have increased from 9% to more than 50% in the most recent week. Vaccination remains our best defence against future COVID-19 waves, so it is still as important as ever that people come take up all the doses for which they are eligible as soon as possible. "It's important to know and recognize all of the. 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. Thats why its critical that anyone with COVID-19 symptoms isolates and gets a PCR test immediately.. According to the COVID Symptom Study, the five most common symptoms are the same: Runny nose, headache, fatigue, sneezing and sore throat. 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. 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. 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. 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. Fourteen people are reported to have died within 28 days of an Omicron diagnosis, ranging in age from 52 to 96 years old. BA.2 omicron symptoms According to the CDC, the symptoms of Covid-19, including BA.2, are: Fever or chills Cough Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing Fatigue Muscle or body. 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. Analysis by the UKHSA suggests it could be substantial, although there is a risk of over-estimating growth advantage in the early stages. As is routine for any new variants under investigation, UKHSAis carrying out laboratory and epidemiological investigations to better understand the properties of this variant. The Omicron BA.2 subvariant is fast becoming the dominant strain of COVID-19, with symptoms similar to previous strains of the virus. India is another country where BA.2 is rapidly replacing the Delta and Omicron BA.1 variant, according to molecular biologist Bijaya Dhakal. 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. "We must remain vigilant and take up vaccinations. 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. 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. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is reminding people to ensure their COVID-19 vaccinations are up to date and to continue following COVID-safe behaviours, as latest technical data indicates BA.4 and BA.5 have become dominant in the UK and are driving the recent increase in infections. The individuals and their households have been told to self-isolate. More recent data on Omicron cases is published regularly here. A preliminary assessment by UKHSA did not find a difference in vaccine effectiveness, although it said there was no data yet available on severity. 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. 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. UKHSA is monitoring this closely. A BA2 variant's symptoms are similar to those of Omicron. 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. We will continue to monitor this situation closely and recommend appropriate public health measures if needed. However, increases in SGTF can give a useful early indication of variant spread. 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. The percentage of people to have received a booster dose will also already be higher in older age groups and those with underlying health conditions due to prioritisation of the rollout so far. 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. What are the symptoms of BA.2? Scratchy throat. Our advanced sequencing capabilities enable us to find variants and take rapid action to limit onward spread. All age groups are affected, including the 75s and over, who are due a spring booster jab to top up protection. These are some of the symptoms that you should be looking out for: High temperature. Since the middle of February, this growth rate has settled at approximately 75% higher than other circulating Omicron lineages in England. AstraZeneca was the main vaccine used early in the programme in care homes and among those in clinical risk groups. This will include analysing live samples of the new variant in our laboratories to investigate properties such as response to current vaccines. UKHSA has performed an initial laboratory evaluation of the current lateral flow devices (LFDs) for COVID-19 in current use in the UK. 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. All 3 subvariants have spike protein mutations of L452 and elude immunity from prior BA1 infection. 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. Aside from all of the usual COVID symptoms, like a dry cough, a scratchy throat, fatigue, and muscle aches, the Stealth variant is thought to cause a few other distinct issues. 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. Booster jabs are protecting people against infection and severe disease so I urge you to play your part in our national mission and get boosted now. 1 case has been identified in Wales. UKHSA is undertaking further detailed studies. 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. Fatigue. 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. It is already the dominant variant in several states and likely drove the country's recent third wave of infections. We now know that BA.2 has an increased growth rate which can be seen in all regions in England. 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. March 31, 2022. The Omicron variant of Covid-19 includes the lineages BA.1, BA.2, BA.3 and B.1.1.529. Once again, we urge everyone who is able to get a booster jab to come forward and do so. In the last week, VUI-21OCT-01 accounted for approximately 6% of all Delta cases. 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 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. The analysis looked at 581 people with confirmed Omicron. Thanks to the expertise of scientists at UKHSA and partner organisations, were able to respond quickly to new variations of the virus. Susan Hopkins, Chief Medical Adviser at UKHSA, said: The latest set of analysis is in keeping with the encouraging signs we have already seen. There are thought to be subtle differences in the symptoms that BA. 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. 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. Omicron BA2 symptoms include taste loss. You have rejected additional cookies. As of 18 July 2022, there were 24 cases of BA.2.75 in the UK. While signs remain encouraging on Omicrons severity compared with Delta, the high levels of community transmission continue and may cause pressures on health services. Congestion. So how worried should we be about this emerging variant? Technical Briefing 34 contains further analysis on symptom comparison on Omicron and Delta. Read about our approach to external linking. For some more vulnerable a third dose is available. An estimated 78.7% of confirmed cases in England are BA.5 which was first identified in April and was designated as a Variant of Concern on 18 May. This includes analysing live samples of the new variant in our laboratories to investigate properties such as response to current vaccines. Omicron has branched into three lineages, explains Thomas Russo, M.D., professor and chief of infectious disease at the University at Buffalo in New York: BA.1, BA.2, and BA.3. A recombinant variant occurs when an individual becomes infected with 2 or more variants at the same time, resulting in a mixing of their genetic material within the patients body. The designation was made on the basis of increasing numbers of BA.2 sequences identified both domestically and internationally. Of these, 20 were in England, 3 in Scotland and 1 in Wales. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has published its latest COVID-19 variant technical briefing. What are the most common symptoms of Omicron BA.2? The genome of VUI-21OCT-01 does not have many mutations compared to Delta. Recent studies suggest that BA.2 has a. Both are variants in the Omicron family. It is not clear where BA.2 originated, but it was first detected in the Philippines in November. 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. Dont include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details. Our continued genomic surveillance allows us to further investigate variants that are growing within the UK. Since then, several sub-variants of Omicron surfaced, including BA.2, BA.3, BA.4, and BA.5. 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. 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. 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. As with previous variants, experts believe vaccines will continue to be highly effective against severe illness, hospitalisation, and death. moderate COVID-19 symptoms who are at high risk of . Its critical that anyone with COVID-19 symptoms isolates and gets aPCRtest immediately. Vaccine efficacy analysis continues to show lower effectiveness for symptomatic Omicron disease. The total number of confirmed cases in England is now 13. Thats why its so important that everybody, everywhere, takes simple steps to protect themselves from infection. What's the least amount of exercise we can get away with? 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. Delta and Omicron Cases are being eclipsed by BA2 Variant rapidly. There is insufficient data to make any assessment of protection against severe disease, or to assess the severity of illness caused by Omicron. 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. It is important that everyone ensures that they are up to date with vaccinations offered as they remain our best form of defence against severe illness. While prevalence remains high, make sure to wear your mask in indoor settings and take a lateral flow test before meeting others. So far, vaccination means that the rise in cases is not translating to a rise in severe illness and deaths. However, it should be noted both that this is early data and more research is required to confirm these findings. 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. These groups have been prioritised for booster doses since the start of the rollout in September to increase their protection. In the age group of 20-50 years, significant severity is not expected. UKHSAs most recent variant technical briefing can be found on GOV.UK. 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. The first sequences were submitted from the Philippines, and most samples have been uploaded from Denmark (6,411). Please take up this offer as soon as you are invited to protect yourself, your families and your communities. Wear a mask in crowded spaces and, when meeting people indoors, open windows and doors to ventilate the room. New studies are being undertaken to assess this further. 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. 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. [92] Reactions [ edit] Vaccine producers [ edit] 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. 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). Following the change in JCVI advice earlier this week, 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. 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. Two-thirds with Omicron say they had Covid before. 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. 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. Analyses of sequenced SGTF samples has indicated that until mid-November, more than 99% of these were Delta cases. 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.

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