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What are the most common symptoms of Omicron BA.2? 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. 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. This is consistent with analysis published yesterday by Imperial College London and the University of Edinburgh. This suggests that BA.5 is likely to become the dominant COVID-19 variant in the UK. A preliminary assessment did not find evidence of a difference in vaccine effectiveness against symptomatic disease for BA.2 compared to BA.1. Early data shows that young children who are hospitalised experience mild illness and are discharged after short stays in hospital. But the preliminary assessment found no evidence that vaccines would be any less effective against symptomatic disease for either sub-variant. Susan Hopkins, Chief Medical Adviser at UKHSA, said: The latest set of analysis is in keeping with the encouraging signs we have already seen. Added breakdown of cases by local authority to latest update. 8 Research published in April 2022 in The Lancet also found. Therefore, although early suggestions are that individuals may be less likely to require hospitalisation, many more people are likely to become infected. 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). Its critical that anyone with COVID-19 symptoms isolates and gets a PCR test immediately. 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. It is projected that if current trends continue unchanged, the UK will exceed one million infections a day by the end of this month. People aged 75 and over remain at particular risk of severe disease if they are not up to date with their vaccinations. UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has published variant technical briefing 24. There were very limited numbers of BA.2 in this study and no inferences can be made regarding BA.2. The population rate of people becoming infected with Omicron after having previously contracted COVID-19 has increased sharply. BA.1 accounts for most of the cases. 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 focussed contact tracing. The individuals and their households have been told to self-isolate. 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. Read about our approach to external linking. At this point it is not possible to determine where the sublineage may have originated. Thats why its so important that everybody, everywhere, takes simple steps to protect themselves from infection. However, cases of the variant continue to rise at an extraordinary rate already surpassing the record daily number in the pandemic. Since BA.2 is a sub-strain of the Omicron variant, it is expected that its symptoms will be similar. Work is underway to identify any links to travel to Southern Africa. Analysis by the UKHSA suggests it could be substantial, although there is a risk of over-estimating growth advantage in the early stages. BA.2 is found to be able to alarmingly reinfect patients originally infected by Omicron BA.1. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has identified 7 further cases of COVID-19 with mutations consistent with B.1.1.529 in England, in addition to the previous 22 confirmed cases of the SARS-CoV-2 variant known as B.1.1.529. 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. BA.2 has an increased growth rate compared to BA.1 in all regions of England where there are enough cases to assess it. BA.2 continues to demonstrate a substantial growth advantage. 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 Omicron BA.2 subvariant is fast becoming the dominant strain of COVID-19, with symptoms similar to previous strains of the virus. The omicron variant of the coronavirus was first detected in late 2021. 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 latest number of COVID-19 cases with mutations consistent with B.1.1.529 in England are published on UKHSAs social media channels. Lower back pain. A separate UK study also found higher transmissibility for BA.2 compared to BA.1. In some countries, BA.2 accounts for more than half of sequenced Omicron cases, it adds. So far, there have been 717 V-22OCT-01 sequences uploaded from the UK to the international GISAID database. 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. 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 . Prior infection is 44% effective at preventing future infection, increasing to 71% with 3 doses of the vaccine. 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. BA.2 is believed to be far more contagious than the earlier Omicron strain, and was blamed for a fresh surge in Denmark. Thats why its critical that anyone with COVID-19 symptoms isolates and gets aPCRtest immediately. This will include analysing live samples of the new variant in our laboratories to investigate properties such as response to current vaccines. UKHSA has also published analyses related to the original Omicron strain BA.1. In this analysis, the risk of hospitalisation is lower for Omicron cases with symptomatic or asymptomatic infection after 2 and 3 doses of vaccine, with an 81% (95% confidence interval 77 to 85%) reduction in the risk of hospitalisation after 3 doses compared to unvaccinated Omicron cases. This data shows that protection against severe illness from COVID-19 remains at over 90% in those aged 65 and over up to 14 weeks after a booster dose. People suffering From the Omicron BA2 variant said they had fever and body Aches. Further information is also available in the latest variant technical briefing. 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. Data for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is not included in the UKHSA Technical Briefing. As is routine for any new variants under investigation,UKHSAis carrying out laboratory and epidemiological investigations to better understand the characteristics of this variant. These early findings should be interpreted with caution as transmission data and dynamics can fluctuate, meaning that early findings can change quickly when new variants are identified. UKHSA will continue to designate new variants, and these will receive a variant number (in the format V-date-number). Please take up this offer as soon as you are eligible to protect yourself, your families and your communities. 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. Dr Meera Chand, COVID-19 Incident Director at UKHSA, said: It is the nature of viruses to evolve and mutate, so its to be expected that we will continue to see new variants emerge as the pandemic goes on. This is very encouraging. This will include analysing live samples of the new variant in our laboratories to investigate properties including its response to current vaccines. They save lives and prevent serious illness. Wear a mask in crowded spaces and, when meeting people indoors, open windows and doors to ventilate the room. However, vaccinated people are still less likely to get infected than unvaccinated individuals, and they are also less likely to pass it on. Following the change in JCVI advice earlier this week, 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. 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. Dr Mary Ramsay, Head of Immunisation at UKHSA, said: These early estimates should be treated with caution but they indicate that a few months after the second jab, there is a greater risk of catching the Omicron variant compared to Delta strain. Headache. Experts in Kolkata say that BA.2 symptoms are mostly associated with abdomen and stomach instead of cough or shortness of breath. Runny nose. Please take up this offer as soon as you are invited to protect yourself, your families and your communities. Although there was a rapid increase in SARS-CoV-2 infections in care homes during December 2021 in line with case rises in the community, there has not been an associated increase in hospital admissions. BQ.1 (V-22OCT-01) is a BA.5 sub-lineage which has been designated on the basis of rapid growth. Working alongside Cambridge University MRC Biostatistics unit, UKHSA analysed 528,176 Omicron cases and 573,012 Delta cases between 22 November and 26 December to assess the risk of hospitalisation in England after testing positive for Omicron. That's because there could be cross-immunity - an infection with BA.1 could offer some protection against BA.2. A further case has been identified in Scotland, bringing the total to 10. Neither BQ.1 nor XBB have been designated as variants of concern and UKHSA is monitoring the situation closely, as always. The data so far suggests an increase in overall reinfection rates, alongside an increase in first infections. In some places, growth in recorded cases of the sub-variant has been sharp. Latest updates on SARS-CoV-2 variants detected in the UK. 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. 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. An individual with Omicron is estimated to be between 31 and 45% less likely to attend A&E compared to Delta, and 50 to 70% less likely to be admitted to hospital. There is insufficient data to make any assessment of protection against severe disease, or to assess the severity of illness caused by Omicron. Thats why its critical that anyone with COVID-19 symptoms isolates and gets a PCR test immediately. A thirddose was associated with a 68% (95% confidence interval 52 to 82%) reduced risk of hospitalisation when compared to similar unvaccinated individuals. Previous updates were published by Public Health England. 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. Both have links to travel to Southern Africa. The analysis shows that coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in the UK are primarily made up of BQ.1 and its sublineages, consistent with the UKHSA risk assessment published in October. 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. 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. However, with the spread of BA.4 and BA.5, that symptom seems to have returned, some doctors note. The total number of confirmed cases in England is now 13. 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. Updated analysisshows theadditional incremental benefit from each vaccine exposureincluding for boosters, even in those who have had prior infection. However, one must note, these are only early stage symptoms. Delta remains the predominant variantin England, accounting for over 99% of all COVID-19 cases. You have accepted additional cookies. 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 . As we all work to limit the high levels of transmission of this variant over the Christmas period, we are urging people to test regularly, particularly before attending social gatherings. The analysis looked at 581 people with confirmed Omicron. However, some experts believe that BA.2 doesn't present symptoms different from the original Omicron. 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. Omicron BA2 symptoms include taste loss. XBB.1.5 remains at very low prevalence in the UK, so estimates of growth are highly uncertain. UKHSAis 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. 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. 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. UKHSAis 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. 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. 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. The risk assessment also suggests that Omicron displays a reduction in protection offered by having had a previous infection or vaccination. The majority of these cases are located in London and the South East. 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. The study also showed evidence to suggest that the BA.2 sub-variant is better able to evade vaccines. More evidence is needed to know whether this is due to changes in the virus behaviour or to epidemiological conditions. Dr Meera Chand, UKHSA Director of Clinical an Emerging Infection, said: We continue to monitor the emergence of new variants and give them variant designations if they are sufficiently distinct to warrant separate epidemiological and laboratory assessment. Since then, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has classified two subvariants, BA.1.1 and BA.2. Until we have this evidence, we must exercise the highest level of caution in drawing conclusions about any significant risks to peoples health. 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. As always, the booster vaccine remains the best protection against infection. 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. 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. The data suggests this risk is significantly reduced following a booster vaccine, so I urge everyone to take up their booster when eligible. 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. It was designated a variant of concern (VOC) on Saturday 27 November. 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. 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. More detail will be available in UKHSAs regular variant technical briefings. 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. 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. It is testament to the diligence and scientific expertise of my colleagues at UKHSA, and the genomic sequencing capacity developed through the pandemic, that this new variant has been identified and analysed so quickly. We constantly assess the genetic diversity within the known variants of concern (VOCs) to inform our ongoing public health response to the pandemic. It contains updated analysis on Omicron hospitalisation risk, vaccine efficacy against symptomatic disease from Omicron, and the COVID-19 reinfection rate. As of January 10 2022, 53 sequences of the BA.2 sub-lineage of Omicron had been identified in the United Kingdom. As viruses mutate often and at random, it is not unusual for small numbers of cases to arise featuring new sets of mutations. The designation was made on the basis of increasing numbers of BA.2 sequences identified both domestically and internationally. 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.