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. As part of UKHSAs routine genomic surveillance, approximately 15 to 20% of all positive PCR tests are also sent for sequencing. There is further data showing that effectiveness against symptomatic disease is significantly lower compared to the Delta variant, and wanes more quickly. Early analyses suggest an increased growth rate compared to BA.1, however, growth rates have a low level of certainty early in the emergence of a variant and further analysis is needed. UKHSA is updating its variant classification system to give a clearer indication of which variants have significant changes compared to the current dominant variant. ; The incubation time (time to onset of symptoms) is a bit shorter: 3 days. The Delta variant, for example, comprises 200 different sub-variants. Analysis from routine contact tracing data indicates that transmission is likely to be higher among contacts of BA.2 cases in households (13.4%) than those for contacts of other Omicron cases(10.3%) in the period 27 December 2021 to 11 January 2022. Dr Susan Hopkins, Chief Medical Adviser at UKHSA, said: Hospitalisations always lag a few weeks behind infections, therefore it isnt surprising that we have started to see people being admitted to hospital with the Omicron variant. BA.2 omicron symptoms list as variant spreads in US - Fast Company Data and analysis will be released in due course through our regular surveillance reporting. 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 . Data for the devolved administrations will follow in due course. BA.2 Omicron Subvariant Can Damage Your Lungs, Cause - TheHealthSite UKHSA is monitoring this closely. This will include analysing live samples of the new variant in our laboratories to investigate properties such as response to current vaccines. 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. As of 20 December,132individuals with confirmed Omicron have been admitted to or transferred from emergency departments. Where variant information was available, the majority of intensive care unit (ICU) admissions from 24 November 2021 to 19 January 2022 had Delta infections. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Getting your booster jab remains the most effective way of protecting yourself and others from infection and severe disease. A separate UK study also found higher transmissibility for BA.2 compared to BA.1. 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. Latest updates on SARS-CoV-2 variants detected in the UK. The rapid spread of Omicron BA.2: What studies say - Medical News Today A further case has been identified in Scotland, bringing the total to 10. BA.2 version of omicron is rising in the U.S., but experts remain As is routine for any new variants under investigation, UKHSAis carrying out laboratory and epidemiological investigations to better understand the properties of this variant. Further studies are underway in the UK and abroad. UKHSA has performed an initial laboratory evaluation of the current lateral flow devices (LFDs) for COVID-19 in current use in the UK. Initial data suggests that LFDs are as likely to detect Omicron as other variants including Delta, which has been the dominant variant in the UK from May to December 2021. Since BA.2 is a sub-strain of the Omicron variant, it is expected that its symptoms will be similar. It includes a complete list of studies planned and already under way into the emerging variant. Professor Susan Hopkins, Chief Medical Advisor, UKHSA said: Recombinant variants are not an unusual occurrence, particularly when there are several variants in circulation, and several have been identified over the course of the pandemic to date. The total number of confirmed cases in England is now 13. If you have symptoms take a PCR test and isolate at home until you receive a negative result. I urge you to come forward as soon as youre eligible to help keep yourself and your loved ones safe. You have accepted additional cookies. 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. 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. The latest number of COVID-19 cases with mutations consistent with B.1.1.529 in England are published on UKHSAs social media channels. 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. 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. This designation means that data relating to BA.2.75 will now be reported separately from other BA.2 cases. Data on this wont be available for several weeks. BA.1 accounts for most of the cases. We constantly assess the genetic diversity within the known variants of concern (VOCs) to inform our ongoing public health response to the pandemic. The majority of these cases are located in London and the South East. Please wear face coverings in line with government guidance, let in fresh air when mixing indoors and wash your hands regularly. Experts say BA.2 symptoms don't seem to be all that distinct from original Omicron (BA.1) or the immediately preceding Delta variant. 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. UKHSA is constantly monitoring the situation and working to understand the implications for public health. 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. 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. UKHSA is undertaking further detailed studies. Its critical that anyone with COVID-19 symptoms isolates and gets aPCRtest immediately. Omicron Sub-Variant BA.2: Symptoms, Differences, And Chances Of As of 24 January 2022, 1,072 genomically confirmed cases of BA.2 have been identified in England and all assessments remain preliminary whilst case numbers are relatively low. A runny nose, gastrointestinal. They save lives and prevent serious illness. Omicron continues to grow faster than Delta, with an increased risk of transmission, particularly in contacts outside of the household. The most affected local authorities are West Northamptonshire, where there are 49 confirmed cases and 68 SGTF, and Manchester, where there are 7 confirmed cases and 61 SGTF. The first genomes of this variant were uploaded to the international GISAID database on 22 November. 'Stealth' Omicron: What You Need To Know About The BA.2 Virus | Glamour UK 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. When the reduced risk of hospitalisation was combined with vaccine effectiveness against symptomatic disease, the vaccine effectiveness against hospitalisation was estimated as 52% after one dose, 72% 2 to 24 weeks after dose 2, 52% 25+ weeks after dose 2 and 88% 2 weeks after a booster dose. If you have any symptoms, take a test. 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. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has released variant technical briefing 41. 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. 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. There will be a coprimary endpoint : Neutralizing antibody titers against the SARS-CoV-2 variant of most prominent public health interest according to pandemic evolution (among D614G, B.1.351, Omicron sub-variants BA.4-5, BQ1.1 and XBB or another recent variant) and against one of the variant targeted by the vaccines. You can change your cookie settings at any time. We have also learnt that BA.2 has a slightly higher secondary attack rate than BA.1 in households. The BA.2 variant is a sibling of the BA.1, which swept across the country over Christmas. Runny nose. At the moment there is much that is not yet clear. There is currently no evidence of community transmission within the UK. As prevalence increases, its more important than ever that we all remain alert, take precautions, and ensure that were up to date with COVID-19 vaccinations, which remain our best form of defence against the virus. Because of a quirk in how it shows up in test results, we can see the numbers of suspected BA.2 doubled in the week up to 24 January. This particular recombinant, XE, has shown a variable growth rate and we cannot yet confirm whether it has a true growth advantage. There have been recent reports of people who experience symptoms like those of viral meningitis, an inflammation of the brain and spinal cord membranes. Everyone over 18 is now able to walk into a vaccine centre, so do not hesitate to get yours. 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. 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. We now know that BA.2 has an increased growth rate which can be seen in all regions in England. 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. Stealth BA.2 Omicron Variant Can Reinfect People Who Had BA - Newsweek Early data shows that young children who are hospitalised experience mild illness and are discharged after short stays in hospital. As of January 10 2022, 53 sequences of the BA.2 sub-lineage of Omicron had been identified in the United Kingdom. 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. Further information is also available in the latest variant technical briefing. Our exceptional vaccine rollout means the number of people severely affected by COVID-19 is low, and the UKs innovation and research has discovered life-saving treatments for those most at risk from COVID-19. Please come forward to receive your booster as soon as possible. It will take only 2 minutes to fill in. 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. 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. UKHSA will continue to designate new variants, and these will receive a variant number (in the format V-date-number). Studiesof households and contactshave found that there is a higher risk of transmission to contacts from an Omicron case, when compared to Delta. Thats why its critical that anyone with COVID-19 symptoms isolates and gets aPCRtest immediately. 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.