As viruses mutate into new variants, they sometimes split or branch off into sub-lineages. 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. Both have links to travel to Southern Africa. The most commonly-reported symptoms with the original Omicron variant were cough, fatigue, headache, congestion, and runny nose. But the latest data suggests this extra protection starts to wane more rapidly, being about 15 to 25% lower from 10 weeks after the booster dose. UKHSA has also this week published further vaccine effectiveness data against hospitalisation following a booster dose. UKHSA is undertaking further detailed studies. But at that point the sub-variant still appeared to account for less than one in 20 cases. 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. A thirddose was associated with a 68% (95% confidence interval 52 to 82%) reduced risk of hospitalisation when compared to similar unvaccinated individuals. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has published its latest COVID-19 variant technical briefing. COVID-19 has not gone away, so it is also vitally important that people continue to follow the guidance. 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. The latest version raising alarms is an emerging subvariant of Omicron called BA.2. The omicron variant of the coronavirus was first detected in late 2021. 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. UKHSAis carrying out targeted testing at locations where the positive cases were likely to be infectious. The genome of VUI-21OCT-01 does not have many mutations compared to Delta. Download the data.xlsx. 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. 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. BA.2.75.2 as a new variant but singled it out as an . Trends in SGTF over and time are however affected by the coverage of laboratories contributing to this surveillance data. Until we have this evidence, we must exercise the highest level of caution in drawing conclusions about any significant risks to peoples health. 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 Baric, Omicron is the first SARS-CoV-2 variant to evolve in the context of mounting immunity in the populationthe result of vaccines and prior infection with other forms of the . Vaccine effectiveness against severe disease from Omicron is not yet known but is expected to be significantly higher than protection against symptomatic disease. 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. It is one for the scientists to watch, rather than for the public to be alarmed about at this stage. 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. They save lives and prevent serious illness. What is the stealth omicron, or BA.2, variant? There is currently no evidence of community transmission within the UK. 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. Francois Balloux, Professor of Computational Systems Biology and director of the UCL Genetics Institute, said that BA.1 and BA.2 "can be considered as two epidemiologically largely equivalent sub-lineages of Omicron". The proportion of test results displaying SGTF has been very low in recent months but an increase has been observed in the past week. As we learn to live safely with COVID-19, there are actions we can all take to help reduce the risk of catching COVID-19 and passing it on to others. It is therefore vital that people continue to exercise caution in order to limit the transmission of the virus. 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. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has published the latest variant technical briefing. It is projected that if current trends continue unchanged, the UK will exceed one million infections a day by the end of this month. One of the most common symptoms of the Omicron subvariant BA.2 is nausea. . 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 . 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 a PCR test as soon as possible, even if they have received a positive COVID-19 PCR test within the last 90 days. Vaccination is critical to help us bolster our defences against this new variant please get your first, second, third or booster jab without delay. The public health advice is the same for all current variants. BA.2 continues to demonstrate a substantial growth advantage. However, a small change may be enough to cause a difference in the virus properties in some circumstances. 2. The total number of confirmed cases in England is now 5. [92] Reactions [ edit] Vaccine producers [ edit] 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. 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. In the age group of 20-50 years, significant severity is not expected. 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. The highly transmissible Omicron variant now accounts for half of the world's infections. 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. Data for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is not included in the UKHSA Technical Briefing. 2 or Stealth Omicron causes. We have seen a rise in hospital admissions in line with community infections but vaccinations are continuing to keep ICU admissions and deaths at low levels. 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 individuals that have tested positive and their contacts are all isolating. The five most common symptoms of Omicron are: runny nose;. Read about our approach to external linking. Hospital admissions are increasing, and we cannot risk the NHS being overwhelmed. Dr Meera Chand, Director of Clinical and Emerging Infections at UKHSA, said: The reclassification of these variants as variants of concern reflects emerging evidence on the growth of BA.4 and BA.5 internationally and in the UK. Omicron BA.2 Variant Severity Neither have been designated as variants of concern by UKHSA. 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. As of 30 November 2021, there are 22 confirmed cases of Omicron (B.1.1.529), identified through sequencing or genotyping in England. Work is underway to identify any links to travel. 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. It remains vital that anyone with COVID-19 symptoms isolates and gets aPCRtest immediately. Two variants, CH.1.1 and XBB.1.5, appear to have a growth advantage in the UK. These are potentially biologically significant mutations which may change the behaviour of the virus with regards to immune escape, transmissibility or susceptibility to treatments, but this has not been proven. UKHSA has performed an initial laboratory evaluation of the current lateral flow devices (LFDs) for COVID-19 in current use in the UK. UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has published variant technical briefing 24. As previously published, data continues to show vaccine effectiveness against hospitalisation for Omicron remains high. 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. However, UKHSA scientists say there is no room to be complacent. As we cautiously return to Plan A, I encourage you to give yourself and your loved ones the best protection possible and Get Boosted Now. Please also make sure to follow all Government guidance to reduce the spread of infection. BA.2 is believed to be far more contagious than the earlier Omicron strain, and was blamed for a fresh surge in Denmark. 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. The sub-variant of Omicron has been detected in 57 countries now, the WHO says. Experts say BA.2 symptoms don't seem to be all that distinct from original Omicron (BA.1) or the immediately preceding Delta variant. 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. Genome sequencing among the states is not always fair. pic.twitter.com/ESQupxUet4. There is no data to suggest that BA.2 leads to more severe disease than previous Omicron sub-variants. In severe cases, the SpO2 Level may also decrease. UKHSA is monitoring this closely. Infection rate corrected to one million infections a day. These are potentially biologically significant mutations which may change the behaviour of the virus with regards to vaccines, treatments and transmissibility. The variant technical briefing also includes updated analysis on Omicron BA.2, currently the dominant variant in the UK. The most common omicron-related symptoms are: Cough. BA.2, also known as "stealth omicron," is considered a subvariant of omicron. This includes analysing live samples of the new variant in our laboratories to investigate properties such as response to current vaccines. It contains epidemiological data and updated analysis of COVID-19 variants currently circulating in the UK. XBB (V-22OCT-02) is a recombinant lineage derived from 2 previous Omicron sublineages. 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. BQ.1 (V-22OCT-01) is a BA.5 sub-lineage which has been designated on the basis of rapid growth. The Omicron variant of Covid-19 includes the lineages BA.1, BA.2, BA.3 and B.1.1.529. As of 20 December,132individuals with confirmed Omicron have been admitted to or transferred from emergency departments. Twoto4 weeks after a booster dose, vaccine effectiveness ranged from around 65 to 75%, dropping to 55 to 70% at 5 to 9 weeks and 40 to 50% from 10+ weeks after the booster. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has identified 8 further cases of COVID-19 with mutations consistent with B.1.1.529 in England, in addition to the previous 5 confirmed cases of the SARS-CoV-2 variant known as B.1.1.529. 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. Dr Jenny Harries, Chief Executive ofUKHSA, said: We are continuing our efforts to understand the effect of this variant on transmissibility, severe disease, mortality, antibody response and vaccine efficacy. Experts say BA.2 has extensive mutations and is about 40 percent more infectious than the original Omicron variant. UKHSAwill continue to carry out laboratory and epidemiological investigations to better understand the characteristics of this variant. 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. Following the first 2 confirmed cases of the SARS-CoV-2 variant known as B.1.1.529 on 27 November, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has identified one further case of COVID-19 with mutations consistent with B.1.1.529 in the UK. 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. 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. 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. 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. In addition, UKHSA has published data which shows the detection of cases exhibiting S-gene target failure (SGTF) in recent weeks across the country. We continue to urge everyone who is eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccine and booster. Previous variants of concern which no longer meet the criteria will be redesignated. 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. If you develop any symptoms, isolate immediately and get a PCR test. A further case has been identified in Scotland, bringing the total to 10. So, like the original omicron strain (BA.1), the primary symptoms of a mild BA.2 infection are a cough, fever, fatigue and possible loss of taste or smell. The population rate of people becoming infected with Omicron after having previously contracted COVID-19 has increased sharply. 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. 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. The new strain has several key mutations, with the most important of those occurring in the spike protein that studs the outside of the virus. This suggests that BA.5 is likely to become the dominant COVID-19 variant in the UK. BA.2 Symptoms Not That Different From Omicron, Delta. 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. One individual diagnosed in hospital has sadly died. 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. If you have symptoms take a PCR test and isolate at home until you receive a negative result. Wear a mask in crowded spaces and, when meeting people indoors, open windows and doors to ventilate the room. The study also showed evidence to suggest that the BA.2 sub-variant is better able to evade vaccines. As of May 2022, BA.2.12.1 was spreading in the US and two new subvariants of Omicron named BA.4 and BA.5, first detected in January 2022, spread in South Africa. Susan Hopkins, Chief Medical Adviser at UKHSA, said: The latest set of analysis is in keeping with the encouraging signs we have already seen. The individuals who have tested positive and their contacts have been asked to self-isolate. Since then, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has classified two subvariants, BA.1.1 and BA.2. This will include analysing live samples of the new variant in our laboratories to investigate properties including its response to current vaccines. UKHSAreleases weekly updates on the number of confirmed new cases of variants of concern and variants under investigation identified in the UK. 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. Teams nationally and locally are working at pace to identify and trace all close contacts of every Omicron case. 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. We use some essential cookies to make this website work. 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. It is not unexpected to see new lineages and continued investigation is a normal part of the surveillance of an infectious disease. ROCHESTER, Minn. The World Health Organization designated COVID-19 variant B.1.1.529, named omicron, a "variant of concern" on Nov. 26, 2021, and the first confirmed case in the U.S. was on Dec. 1, 2021. The individuals and their households have been told to self-isolate. UKHSA scientists are urging anyone who has not had all the vaccines they are eligible for to make sure that they get them as soon as possible. All 3 subvariants have spike protein mutations of L452 and elude immunity from prior BA1 infection. "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. Whilst there are insufficient data to quantify either vaccine effectiveness or risk of reinfection in the UK exactly, the observed growth, case distribution and early analyses in both South Africa and the UK are consistent with some loss of immune protection against infection. As of 2 May 2022, 21 confirmed cases of Omicron BA.4 and 19 confirmed cases of Omicron BA.5 have been detected in England. UKHSA is gathering scientific information as quickly as possible in order to inform the right balance of interventions to prevent transmission and protect lives. 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. The risk assessment also suggests that Omicron displays a reduction in protection offered by having had a previous infection or vaccination. 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. It appears to have a growth advantage compared to the version of Omicron, BA.1, that has swept the globe. Analysis by the UKHSA suggests it could be substantial, although there is a risk of over-estimating growth advantage in the early stages. Anewrisk assessment for OmicronVOC-21NOV-01 (B.1.1.529)has also been published and is available here. 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. Following the change in JCVI advice today, 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. 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. Typical meningitis symptoms include neck stiffness or pain, numbness, tingling, and sensitivity to light. More investigation is required to fully determine the extent of these mutations impact. Please take up this offer as soon as you are invited to protect yourself, your families and your communities. Those aged 18 to 39 should wait to be called. They say its possible that the virus has now changed its pattern and is affecting the stomach. We have now identified cases in the East Midlands, East of England, London, South East and North West. 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 . 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. We constantly assess the genetic diversity within the known variants of concern (VOCs) to inform our ongoing public health response to the pandemic. The first genomes of this variant were uploaded to the international GISAID database on 22 November. Runny nose (especially in combination with loss of smell) A runny nose is a universal sign of cold, flu and now COVID-19. 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 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". Currently, the Omicron variant has BA.1, BA.2, BA.3, and B.1.1.529 sub-variants, of which the BA.1 was dominant a few months before, and scientists have recently warned about the BA.2 sub-variant . ; BA.5 sometimes gives rise to more marked symptomssometimes with digestive symptoms . 34 Subsequent studies that were performed in periods when a mix of BA.1, BA.2, BA.4, and BA.5 viruses circulated have reported low effectiveness of a second booster against . Vaccination is critical to help us bolster our defences against this new variant please get your first, second, third or booster jab without delay. The BA.2 variant is a sibling of the BA.1, which swept across the country over Christmas.
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