But Omicron is an umbrella term for several closely related lineages of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, the most common of which is the BA.1 lineage. 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. 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. Dr Jenny Harries, Chief Executive of UKHSA, said: We are continuing our efforts to understand the effect of this variant on transmissibility, severe disease, mortality, antibody response and vaccine efficacy. This designation means that data relating to BA.2.75 will now be reported separately from other BA.2 cases. Data for the devolved administrations will follow in due course. 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. 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. 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. 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 not clear where BA.2 originated, but it was first detected in the Philippines in November. 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. Delta and Omicron Cases are being eclipsed by BA2 Variant rapidly. 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. "The symptoms of the Omicron variant, which includes the BA.2 lineage, and the Delta variant, are similar," says Dr. Erica Johnson, MD, the chair of the Infectious Disease Board of the . A further 16 cases have been identified in Scotland, bringing the total in Scotland to 29. The proportion of test results displaying SGTF has been very low in recent months but an increase has been observed in the past week. 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. UKHSAis carrying out targeted testing at locations where the positive cases were likely to be infectious. An important question is whether BA.2 or BA.3 will become a new dominating "variant of concern". A preliminary assessment by UKHSA did not find a difference in vaccine effectiveness, although it said there was no data yet available on severity. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has published a new variant technical briefing describing ongoing work on the Omicron 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. 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. 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. We expect the vaccines to show higher protection against the serious complications of COVID-19, so if you havent yet had your first 2 doses please book an appointment straight away. 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. UKHSA continues to examine all available data relating to SARS-CoV-2 variants in the UK and abroad. 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. 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). 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. Data for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is not included in the UKHSA Technical Briefing. Spector shared a list of symptom prevalence from people who had tested positive for COVID, most of whom were estimated to have caught BA.2, he said. 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. UKHSA is monitoring the situation closely, in partnership with scientific and public health organisations across the world. 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. 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. 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? 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. BA.2 is believed to be far more contagious than the earlier Omicron strain, and was blamed for a fresh surge in Denmark. However, it is not confirmatory as there are a number of other reasons that a sample might exhibit SGTF. UKHSA is constantly monitoring the situation and working to understand the implications for public health. Since BA.2 is a sub-strain of the Omicron variant, it is expected that its symptoms will be similar. Data on this wont be available for several weeks. 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 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 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 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 . 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. One dose of any vaccine was associated with a 35% reduced risk of hospitalisation among symptomatic cases with the Omicron variant, 2 doses with a 67% reduction up to 24 weeks after the seconddose and a 51% reduced risk 25 or more weeks after the seconddose. That's because there could be cross-immunity - an infection with BA.1 could offer some protection against BA.2. Data and analysis will be released in due course through our regular surveillance reporting. 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 Delta variant sub-lineage known as Delta AY.4.2 was designated a variant under investigation (VUI) by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) on 20 October 2021 and has been given the official name VUI-21OCT-01. 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. More recent data on Omicron cases is published regularly here. Xi Jinping is unveiling a new deputy - why it matters, Bakhmut attacks still being repelled, says Ukraine, Saving Private Ryan actor Tom Sizemore dies at 61, The children left behind in Cuba's mass exodus, Snow, Fire and Lights: Photos of the Week. However, vaccinated people are still less likely to get infected than unvaccinated individuals, and they are also less likely to pass it on. 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 UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has published analyses of Omicron sub-lineage BA.2. As is routine for any new variants under investigation, UKHSAis carrying out laboratory and epidemiological investigations to better understand the properties of this variant. 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. None of the cases to date is known to have been hospitalised or died. 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. However, it should be noted both that this is early data and more research is required to confirm these findings. 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. More evidence is needed to know whether this is due to changes in the virus behaviour or to epidemiological conditions. The UK has been hard-hit by a further spike in Covid-19 cases in recent weeks, with infections being driven by a sub-lineage of the Omicron variant known as BA.2 or "Stealth Omicron". 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. At the moment there is much that is not yet clear. The population rate of people becoming infected with Omicron after having previously contracted COVID-19 has increased sharply. Please take up this offer as soon as you are eligible to protect yourself, your families and your communities. 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. A further case has been identified in Scotland, bringing the total to 10. New sub-lineages within Delta continue to be identified. Further studies are underway in the UK and abroad. Scratchy throat. Other countries that have uploaded more than 100 samples are India (530), Sweden (181), and Singapore (127). Currently, approximately half of all tests conducted in the UK are able to detect SGTF. The individuals and their households have been told to self-isolate. 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. The five key Omicron symptoms. According to the ZOE study - conducted across Omicron and Delta waves for comparison - there are five key symptoms of the Omicron variant. Both are variants in the Omicron family. 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). UKHSA is carrying out targeted testing at locations where the positive cases were likely to be infectious. Those are pretty similar to what people experience with a cold or other seasonal viruses. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has published the latest variant technical briefing. 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. UKHSA has also released a variant risk assessment for Omicron BA.4 and BA.5, summarising the emerging epidemiology and laboratory evidence. Vaccination is critical to help us bolster our defences against this new variant please get your first, second or booster jab without delay. Please make sure you follow all the available guidance. 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. Following the change in Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advice yesterday, a booster dose for everyone over 18 years is now recommended at a minimum of 3 months from your last primary course jab. Omicron BA2 symptoms include taste loss. 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. Updated analysisshows theadditional incremental benefit from each vaccine exposureincluding for boosters, even in those who have had prior infection. The total number of confirmed cases in England is now 22. While there is a suggestion that this wanes slightly after 15 weeks, protection in this age group remains high at over 85%. Vaccination is critical to help us bolster our defences against this new variant please get your first, second, third or booster jab without delay. 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. Since then, several sub-variants of Omicron surfaced, including BA.2, BA.3, BA.4, and BA.5. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has released a new variant technical briefing detailing updated analysis of epidemiological and genomic data relating to SARS-CoV-2 variants currently circulating in the UK, including the XBB.1.5 variant which has been increasing in the US in recent months. Runny nose/congestion. None of these cases are known to have been hospitalised or died. The newest COVID variant taking the world by storm is Omicron's stealthy sub-variant BA.2, and it seems to have brought on a new barrage of gastrointestinal symptoms with it. Getting your booster jab remains the most effective way of protecting yourself and others from infection and severe disease. Fatigue. In the age group of 20-50 years, significant severity is not expected. 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. It is never too late to come forward for your first dose and its vital that everyone comes forward to get boosted now as we head into the new year. UKHSA is undertaking further detailed studies. Thanks to very high levels of vaccine coverage we already have a robust wall of defence against COVID-19 as new variants emerge. For the first time, this data includes analysis on vaccine effectiveness 15+ weeks after the booster dose. Evidence continues to show that Omicron is transmitting more rapidly than the dominant Delta variant. In the most recent week of data (specimen dates from 30 November 2021 reported as of 6 December), the number of cases with SGTF has increased to 705. If you develop any symptoms, isolate immediately and get a PCR test. One case is located in Camden, London, and one case is located in Wandsworth, London. A separate UK study also found higher transmissibility for BA.2 compared to BA.1. UKHSAis carrying out targeted testing at locations where the positive cases were likely to be infectious. You have rejected additional cookies. According to the COVID Symptom Study, the five most common symptoms are the same: Runny nose, headache, fatigue, sneezing and sore throat. Infection rate corrected to one million infections a day. 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. 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 latest version raising alarms is an emerging subvariant of Omicron called BA.2. 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. We are continuing to monitor the data 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. BA.2.75.2 as a new variant but singled it out as an . The full document and underlying data is available on GOV.UK. As of 20 December,132individuals with confirmed Omicron have been admitted to or transferred from emergency departments. Based on the reports from doctors treating the Covid variant and patients battling. It is therefore vital that people continue to exercise caution in order to limit the transmission of the virus. A detrimental change in biological properties (changes in transmissibility, severity or immune evasion) compared to the current dominant variant. The same happened with Omicron, which includes the lineages BA.1, BA.2, BA.3 and B.1.1.529. Added breakdown of cases by local authority to latest update. Neither BQ.1 nor XBB have been designated as variants of concern and UKHSA is monitoring the situation closely, as always. Our continued genomic surveillance allows us to detect them and assess whether they are significant. This is not an unusual occurrence and several recombinant SARS-CoV-2 variants have been identified over the course of the pandemic. 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. While growth rates can be overestimated in early analyses of a new variant, the apparent growth advantage is currently substantial. This matches a recent study led by Oxford University and the Office for National Statistics (ONS), using data from the COVID-19 Infection Survey produced by the latter. This increased to 63% for BA.1 and 70% for BA.2 at 2 weeks following a third vaccine. While evidence is still emerging, so far it does not appear this variant causes more severe disease or renders the vaccines currently deployed any less effective. 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. There is currently insufficient evidence to draw conclusions about growth advantage or other properties of this variant. Currently, no experimental data has been reported about BA.2 and BA.3. What are the symptoms of BA.2? 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 data on the severity of BA.2. If you have symptoms take a PCR test and isolate at home until you receive a negative result. Those aged 18 to 39 should wait to be called. The analysis looked at 581 people with confirmed Omicron. 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. Stay at home if you have any respiratory symptoms or a fever and limit contact with others until you are feeling better, particularly if they are likely to be at greater risk if they contract COVID-19. 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. UKHSA is carrying out targeted testing at locations where the positive cases were likely to be infectious. This suggests that, as immunity begins to wane, these newly emerging BA.2 variants may fuel future waves of SARS-CoV-2 infection. ; The incubation time (time to onset of symptoms) is a bit shorter: 3 days. SGTF is not a 100% accurate test for Omicron and results are regularly evaluated against sequencing to ensure they are interpreted correctly. This is to be expected and UKHSA is monitoring the situation closely. Please take up this offer as soon as you are invited to protect yourself, your families and your communities. Due to the early nature of the findings, all estimates are subject to significant uncertainty and are subject to change. With the original version of the omicron variant, which swept across the U.S. at a dizzying speed last winter, the loss of taste and smell was not as common as with the earlier alpha and delta variants. We have now identified cases in the East Midlands, East of England, London and North West. There are insufficient severe cases of Omicronas yetto analyse vaccine effectiveness against hospitalisation, but this is more likely to be sustained, particularly after a booster. Thats why its critical that anyone with COVID-19 symptoms isolates and gets aPCRtest immediately. 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. Of these, 20 were in England, 3 in Scotland and 1 in Wales. 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. At this point it is not possible to determine where the sublineage may have originated. They say its possible that the virus has now changed its pattern and is affecting the stomach. Experts in Kolkata say that BA.2 symptoms are mostly associated with abdomen and stomach instead of cough or shortness of breath. 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. Delta remains the predominant variantin England, accounting for over 99% of all COVID-19 cases. The individuals that have tested positive and their contacts are all isolating. However, a small change may be enough to cause a difference in the virus properties in some circumstances. XBB (V-22OCT-02) is a recombinant lineage derived from 2 previous Omicron sublineages. 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. Please take up this offer as soon as you are eligible to protect yourself, your families and your communities. You have accepted additional cookies. BA.2 continues to demonstrate a substantial growth advantage. Vaccination is critical to help us bolster our defences against this new variant please get your first, second, third or booster jab without delay. As with other kinds of variant, most will die off relatively quickly. A booster dose was associated with a 74% reduced risk of hospitalisation in the first 2 to 4 weeks after vaccination, with the figure dropping to 66% 10 weeks or more after this dose. 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. 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. Its critical that anyone with COVID-19 symptoms isolates and gets aPCRtest immediately. The individuals that have tested positive and their contacts are all isolating. 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 focused contact tracing. March 31, 2022. 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. The BA.2 subvariant of Omicron, or the "stealth" variant, has been outcompeting the previously dominant BA.1 subvariant in several countries. Work is underway to identify any links to travel to Southern Africa. Of symptomatic cases, loss of smell and taste was found to be more common in people who tested positive for Delta than those who had Omicron. 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. The worst symptom is a "throat on fire," said University of California, San Francisco's Dr. Peter Chin-Hong. 2023 BBC. No cases have been identified in the UK. moderate COVID-19 symptoms who are at high risk of . To help us improve GOV.UK, wed like to know more about your visit today. BA.1 accounts for most of the cases. 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. Read about our approach to external linking. This analysis shows you are up to 8 times more likely to end up in hospital as a result of COVID-19 if you are unvaccinated. India is another country where BA.2 is rapidly replacing the Delta and Omicron BA.1 variant, according to molecular biologist Bijaya Dhakal. Experts say BA.2 has extensive mutations and is about 40 percent more infectious than the original Omicron variant. So far, there have been 717 V-22OCT-01 sequences uploaded from the UK to the international GISAID database. UKHSA are continuing to monitor data on the BA.2 sub-lineage closely. The total number of confirmed cases in England is now 104. Please wear face coverings in line with government guidance, let in fresh air when mixing indoors and wash your hands regularly. 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. It is also absolutely critical that we all do what we can to reduce transmission in the community so that we have time to administer as many booster doses as possible. AstraZeneca was the main vaccine used early in the programme in care homes and among those in clinical risk groups. It is critical that anyone with COVID-19 symptoms isolates and gets a PCR test immediately. This analysis excludes individuals with confirmed previous COVID-19 infection. 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.
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