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. We are continuing to monitor the data closely. Dr Susan Hopkins, Chief Medical Advisor for UKHSA, said: Ongoing variant analysis is an important part of our pandemic response. BA.2 has an increased growth rate compared to BA.1 in all regions of England where there are enough cases to assess it. XBB.1.5 remains at very low prevalence in the UK, so estimates of growth are highly uncertain. While BA.1 and BA.2 are similar, they are 20 mutations apart. UKHSA has also published analyses related to the original Omicron strain BA.1. SGTF is a useful indicator of the presence of Omicron, because as a rule Delta cases have the S-gene and Omicron cases do not. None of these cases are known to have been hospitalised or died. Omicron has a deletion atposition69/70of the spike proteinwhich allows it to be tracked through S gene target failure(SGTF)in some PCR tests. 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. Anewrisk assessment for OmicronVOC-21NOV-01 (B.1.1.529)has also been published and is available here. 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. Genomes have now been uploaded from South Africa, Botswana and Hong Kong but the extent of spread is not yet determined. The Omicron BA.2 subvariant is fast becoming the dominant strain of COVID-19, with symptoms similar to previous strains of the virus. 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. BA.2 is found to be able to alarmingly reinfect patients originally infected by Omicron BA.1. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has published analyses of Omicron sub-lineage BA.2. The individuals and their households have been told to self-isolate. AstraZeneca was the main vaccine used early in the programme in care homes and among those in clinical risk groups. UKHSA encourage everyone to continue to follow the most up-to date guidance. 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. It is critical that anyone with COVID-19 symptoms isolates and gets a PCR test immediately. It contains updated analysis on Omicron hospitalisation risk, vaccine efficacy against symptomatic disease from Omicron, and the COVID-19 reinfection rate. Its 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 data suggests this risk is significantly reduced following a booster vaccine, so I urge everyone to take up their booster when eligible. There is currently insufficient evidence to draw conclusions about growth advantage or other properties of this variant. UKHSA has also released a variant risk assessment for Omicron BA.4 and BA.5, summarising the emerging epidemiology and laboratory evidence. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has published a new variant technical briefing containing updated analysis on Omicron hospitalisation risk and vaccine efficacy against symptomatic disease and hospitalisation. 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. Prior infection is 44% effective at preventing future infection, increasing to 71% with 3 doses of the vaccine. 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. But the preliminary assessment found no evidence that vaccines would be any less effective against symptomatic disease for either sub-variant. Covid Omicron symptoms: new variant BQ.1.1, duration, evolution As with previous variants, experts believe vaccines will continue to be highly effective against severe illness, hospitalisation, and death. So far, there have been 717 V-22OCT-01 sequences uploaded from the UK to the international GISAID database. The individual tested positive after travel to the UK and is linked to travel to Southern Africa. Thats why its critical that anyone with COVID-19 symptoms isolates and gets a PCR test immediately. UKHSA is updating its variant classification system to give a clearer indication of which variants have significant changes compared to the current dominant variant. We will continue to monitor this situation closely and recommend appropriate public health measures if needed. The first sequences were submitted from the Philippines, and most samples have been uploaded from Denmark (6,411). 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. 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. The early observations for 2 doses of AstraZeneca are particularly likely to be unreliable as they are based on small numbers and are likely to reflect an older population and a population with more co-morbidities than those given the Pfizer vaccine. An important question is whether BA.2 or BA.3 will become a new dominating "variant of concern". This will include analysing live samples of the new variant in our laboratories to investigate properties such as response to current vaccines. UKHSA is constantly monitoring the situation and working to understand the implications for public health. This paper can be found as a pre-print, and the data is referred to in the latest vaccine surveillance report. 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. However, one must note, these are only early stage symptoms. 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). Our data shows that LFD tests are similarly able to detect COVID-19 in individuals who have been exposed to Omicron as in those exposed to previous variants. People suffering From the Omicron BA2 variant said they had fever and body Aches. Cases have been confirmed through whole genome sequencing in all 9 regions of England. 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. UKHSA has also published a breakdown of confirmed Omicron cases and SGTF cases by local authority. Work is underway to identify any links to travel to Southern Africa. The areas with the largest number of confirmed cases are London (146) and the South East (97). The earliest of these has a specimen date of 19 January 2022. BA.2 continues to demonstrate a substantial growth advantage. Studies in the UK reveal (where stealth Omicron is already spreading at a high rate) that people infected with the sub-variant show gut-related . The highly transmissible Omicron variant now accounts for half of the world's infections. 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. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has published its latest COVID-19 variant technical briefing. As the coronavirus continues to evolve, a new highly contagious Omicron variant is appearing in India and other nations, including the United States, experts say.. The best way that you can protect yourself is to come forward for your first 2 doses of vaccine, or your booster jab and do everything you can to stop onward transmission of the infection. 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 most commonly-reported symptoms with the original Omicron variant were cough, fatigue, headache, congestion, and runny nose. 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. 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. The majority of these cases are located in London and the South East. There is still uncertainty around the significance of the changes to the viral genome, and further analyses will now be undertaken. The BA.2 subvariant of Omicron, or the "stealth" variant, has been outcompeting the previously dominant BA.1 subvariant in several countries. So how worried should we be about this emerging variant? Since then, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has classified two subvariants, BA.1.1 and BA.2. Get vaccinated and, for those eligible, come forward for your third or booster dose as appropriate as soon as you are called. Experts in Kolkata say that BA.2 symptoms are mostly associated with abdomen and stomach instead of cough or shortness of breath. Runny or congested nose Feeling fatigued Headache New, continuous cough Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing Muscle or body aches New loss of a sense of taste or smell Sore throat Nausea or vomiting Diarrhoea They advise that if you develop one or more of these symptoms you should take a Covid test as soon as possible. SGTF is not a 100% accurate test for Omicron and results are regularly evaluated against sequencing to ensure they are interpreted correctly. 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. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. 2023 BBC. Omicron BA 2 Covid Variant Severity ,Symptoms - Bareillyinfo BA.2: A more contagious version of the Omicron variant has been UKHSA continues to examine all available data relating to SARS-CoV-2 variants in the UK and abroad. A BA2 variant's symptoms are similar to those of Omicron. UKHSA analysis shows that the risk of hospital admission for an identified case with Omicron is reduced compared to a case of Delta. BA.2 is estimated to account for approximately 93.7% of cases in England, with the highest prevalence in the South East (96.4%) and the lowest in the East Midlands (91.1%). 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.

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