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. While prevalence remains high, make sure to wear your mask in indoor settings and take a lateral flow test before meeting others. This assessment is based on analysis of UK data showing increased household transmission risk, increased secondary attack rates (such as the chance of each case infecting another individual) and increased growth rates compared to Delta. 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. UKHSA is carrying out targeted testing at locations where the positive cases were likely to be infectious. No cases have been identified in the UK. This is to be expected and UKHSA is monitoring the situation closely. Continue to exercise caution. Until the week beginning 23 November 2021, the weekly count of cases with SGTF was routinely less than 150, making up less than 0.1% of all cases. Congestion. Neither have currently been designated as variants of concern. 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. Please wear face coverings in line with government guidance, let in fresh air when mixing indoors and wash your hands regularly. The analysis looked at 581 people with confirmed Omicron. In the age group of 20-50 years, significant severity is not expected. 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. Vaccination is critical to help us bolster our defences against this new variant please get your first, second or booster jab without delay. 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. While in the UK, the individual was in Westminster, London. 8 Research published in April 2022 in The Lancet also found. 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. ; An increase in new cases is being . Latest updates on SARS-CoV-2 variants detected in the UK. Data for the devolved administrations will follow in due course. Why Alex Murdaugh was spared the death penalty, Why Trudeau is facing calls for a public inquiry, The shocking legacy of the Dutch 'Hunger Winter', Why half of India's urban women stay at home. It is vital that everyone over the age of 40 who is eligible for a booster jab comes forward as soon as possible to get increased protection against this new 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. Omicron BA2 symptoms include taste loss. The proportion of test results displaying SGTF has been very low in recent months but an increase has been observed in the past week. Please take up this offer as soon as you are eligible to protect yourself, your families and your communities. UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has published variant technical briefing 24. Please also make sure to follow all Government guidance to reduce the spread of infection. The earliest of these has a specimen date of 19 January 2022. These are some of the symptoms that you should be looking out for: High temperature. UKHSA designated variant B.1.1.529 as a variant under investigation (VUI) on Thursday 25 November. Data and analysis will be released in due course through our regular surveillance reporting. While there is a suggestion that this wanes slightly after 15 weeks, protection in this age group remains high at over 85%. In the UK, 38 cases of XF have been identified, though none have been seen since mid February. 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. What is the stealth omicron, or BA.2, variant? However, vaccinated people are still less likely to get infected than unvaccinated individuals, and they are also less likely to pass it on. A separate UK study also found higher transmissibility for BA.2 compared to BA.1. This analysis excludes individuals with confirmed previous COVID-19 infection. Dont worry we wont send you spam or share your email address with anyone. So far, vaccination means that the rise in cases is not translating to a rise in severe illness and deaths. Based on the reports from doctors treating the Covid variant and patients battling. "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 . UKHSA is constantly monitoring the situation and working to understand the implications for public health. The sub-variant of Omicron has been detected in 57 countries now, the WHO says. UKHSAis carrying out targeted testing at locations where the positive cases were likely to be infectious. Read about our approach to external linking. 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. 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. 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. Analysis by the UKHSA suggests it could be substantial, although there is a risk of over-estimating growth advantage in the early stages. 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. UKHSA is monitoring this closely. Delta and Omicron Cases are being eclipsed by BA2 Variant rapidly. Overall, the original Omicron lineage, BA.1, is dominant in the UK and the proportion of BA.2 cases is currently low. At the moment there is much that is not yet clear. 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. The analysis included very small numbers of cases as only a few people in the UK currently have this variant, meaning this data should be interpreted with caution until more cases have been studied. 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. BA.2 Symptoms Not That Different From Omicron, Delta. The highly transmissible Omicron variant now accounts for half of the world's infections. Omicron has a deletion atposition69/70of the spike proteinwhich allows it to be tracked through S gene target failure(SGTF)in some PCR tests. UKHSA has also released a variant risk assessment for Omicron BA.4 and BA.5, summarising the emerging epidemiology and laboratory evidence. 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. As I previously reported, omicron subvariants have a shorter incubation period, which is why the symptoms may appear earlier. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has published its latest COVID-19 variant technical briefing. 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 UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has published the latest Variant Technical Briefing. We continue to monitor all recombinants closely, routinely through our world-leading genomic surveillance and sequencing capability. The risk assessment also suggests that Omicron displays a reduction in protection offered by having had a previous infection or vaccination. Once again, we urge everyone who is able to get a booster jab to come forward and do so. Cases have been confirmed through whole genome sequencing in all 9 regions of England. Experts say BA.2 symptoms don't seem to be all that distinct from original Omicron (BA.1) or the immediately preceding Delta variant. The 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 Delta variant, for example, comprises 200 different sub-variants. UKHSA has also published analyses related to the original Omicron strain BA.1. You will not always know whether someone you come into contact with is at higher risk of becoming seriously ill from respiratory infections, including COVID-19. 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. There are also hybrid strains, such as XE, which is a combination of BA.1 and BA.2 By Alex Finnis 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. Well be undertaking further analysis to investigate the small rise in the number of children admitted to hospital but currently coronavirus (COVID-19) poses a very low health risk to children and infants. These groups have been prioritised for booster doses since the start of the rollout in September to increase their protection. The Omicron BA.2 subvariant is fast becoming the dominant strain of COVID-19, with symptoms similar to previous strains of the virus. Prior infection is 44% effective at preventing future infection, increasing to 71% with 3 doses of the vaccine. UKHSA has performed an initial laboratory evaluation of the current lateral flow devices (LFDs) for COVID-19 in current use in the UK. This includes analysing live samples of the new variant in our laboratories to investigate properties such as response to current vaccines. Please take up this offer as soon as you are eligible to protect yourself, your families and your communities. While BA.2 appears to be more transmissible than previous variants, there is no data yet to suggest that it is any more severe. The individuals who have tested positive and their contacts are all isolating. 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. 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. A further 3 cases have been identified in Scotland, bringing the total to 13. BA.3 shares most of its mutations with BA.1 and BA.2 except for one. Where variant information was available, the majority of intensive care unit (ICU) admissions from 24 November 2021 to 19 January 2022 had Delta infections. "It's important to know and recognize all of the. 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 . BA.2 attacking abdomen instead of lungs. 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. In addition, UKHSA has published data which shows the detection of cases exhibiting S-gene target failure (SGTF) in recent weeks across the country. Thanks to very high levels of vaccine coverage we already have a robust wall of defence against COVID-19 as new variants emerge. This suggests that, as immunity begins to wane, these newly emerging BA.2 variants may fuel future waves of SARS-CoV-2 infection. 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. The first sequences were submitted from the Philippines, and most samples have been uploaded from Denmark (6,411). 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. SGTF is not a 100% accurate test for Omicron and results are regularly evaluated against sequencing to ensure they are interpreted correctly. Those are pretty similar to what people experience with a cold or other seasonal viruses. It is already the dominant variant in several states and likely drove the country's recent third wave of infections. Genome sequencing among the states is not always fair. pic.twitter.com/ESQupxUet4. Genomes have now been uploaded from South Africa, Botswana and Hong Kong but the extent of spread is not yet determined. 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. 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. The latest version raising alarms is an emerging subvariant of Omicron called BA.2. The B.1.1.529variant includes a large number of spike protein mutations as well as mutations in other parts of the viral genome. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has published analyses of Omicron sub-lineage BA.2. There is now high confidence that the Omicron variant causes low severity of disease in adults. Scratchy throat. There will be no other categorisation of variants, including no variant under investigation (VUI) category. The areas with the largest number of confirmed cases are London (146) and the South East (97). However, it is not confirmatory as there are a number of other reasons that a sample might exhibit SGTF. Of these, XD and XF are recombinants of Delta and Omicron BA.1, while XE is a recombinant of Omicron BA.1 and BA.2. 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. 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. The total number of confirmed cases in England is now 104. UKHSA analysis shows that the risk of hospital admission for an identified case with Omicron is reduced compared to a case of Delta. In total, 40 countries have uploaded 8,040 BA.2 sequences to GISAID since 17 November 2021. Dr Meera Chand, Director of Clinical and Emerging Infections, UKHSA, said: Through our genomic surveillance we continue to see evolution of variants in the Omicron family. 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 . This increased to 63% for BA.1 and 70% for BA.2 at 2 weeks following a third vaccine. 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. 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. 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. It was designated a variant of concern (VOC) on Saturday 27 November. Working from home where possible, consistently wearing masks in crowded or enclosed spaces, washing your hands regularly and isolating and getting tested if you feel unwell are also vitally important in reducing the impact of COVID-19 this winter. Where individualsare suspected or confirmed to have theOmicron variantas the result of testing, their close contacts will be contacted by NHS Test and Trace, required to self-isolate and asked to take aPCRtest,regardless of whether they have been vaccinated. More detail will be available in UKHSAs regular variant technical briefings. However, it remains too early to draw any definitive conclusions on hospital severity, and the increased transmissibility of Omicron and the rising cases in the over 60s population in England means it remains highly likely that there will be significant pressure on the NHS in coming weeks. 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. SUMMARY : The basics of the Omicron sub-variant, the BA.5, which is currently the majority in France: BA.5 is more contagious than BA.2 (January wave), which was itself more contagious than BA.1 and even more than Delta (variant 2021). 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. Wear a mask in crowded spaces and, when meeting people indoors, open windows and doors to ventilate the room. Trends in SGTF over and time are however affected by the coverage of laboratories contributing to this surveillance data. What are the most common symptoms of Omicron BA.2? Wed like to set additional cookies to understand how you use GOV.UK, remember your settings and improve government services. The risk of catching or passing on COVID-19 is greatest when someone who is infected is physically close to, or sharing an enclosed or poorly ventilated space with, other people. 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 UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has released variant technical briefing 50. Thats why its critical that anyone with COVID-19 symptoms isolates and gets a PCR test immediately. The updated risk assessment includes indicators for infection severity in both adults and children. According to the CDC, the Omicron variant spreads more easily than the original SARS-CoV-2 virus and the Delta variant. Protection against hospitalisation from vaccines is good against the Omicron variant. Fourteen people are reported to have died within 28 days of an Omicron diagnosis, ranging in age from 52 to 96 years old. Among those who had received 2 doses of Pfizer or Moderna, effectiveness dropped from around 65 to 70% down to around 10% by 20 weeks after the seconddose. 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. We use some essential cookies to make this website work. The Omicron variant of Covid-19 includes the lineages BA.1, BA.2, BA.3 and B.1.1.529. We have now identified cases in the East Midlands, East of England, London and North West. A further case has been identified in Scotland, bringing the total to 10. We are continuing to monitor the data closely. These are potentially biologically significant mutations which may change the behaviour of the virus with regards to vaccines, treatments and transmissibility. Taste Lost is one of the Omicron BA2 Symptoms. March 31, 2022. We should all continue to test regularly with LFDs and take a PCR test if symptoms develop. New sub-lineages within Delta continue to be identified. The two most reported symptom of patients infected by the Stealth Omicron variant is -dizziness and fatigue. We continue to urge everyone who is eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccine and booster. If the growth rate and doubling time continue at the rate we have seen in the last 2 weeks, we expect to see at least 50% of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases to be caused by Omicron variant in the next 2 to 4 weeks. As is routine for any new variants under investigation,UKHSAis carrying out laboratory and epidemiological investigations to better understand the characteristics of this variant. However, one must note, these are only early stage symptoms. 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.