The individuals that have tested positive and their contacts are all isolating. 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. A separate UK study also found higher transmissibility for BA.2 compared to BA.1. SGTF is not a 100% accurate test for Omicron and results are regularly evaluated against sequencing to ensure they are interpreted correctly. We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services. New studies are being undertaken to assess this further. UKHSA has also published a breakdown of confirmed Omicron cases and SGTF cases by local authority. The earliest of these has a specimen date of 19 January 2022. [92] Reactions [ edit] Vaccine producers [ edit] However, vaccinated people are still less likely to get infected than unvaccinated individuals, and they are also less likely to pass it on. In total, 40 countries have uploaded 8,040 BA.2 sequences to GISAID since 17 November 2021. 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. 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. The data so far suggests an increase in overall reinfection rates, alongside an increase in first infections. 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 . UKHSA designated variant B.1.1.529 as a variant under investigation (VUI) on Thursday 25 November. The population rate of people becoming infected with Omicron after having previously contracted COVID-19 has increased sharply. Taste Lost is one of the Omicron BA2 Symptoms. The guidance on vaccination is changing to help all of us bolster our defences in the face of this new variant. Please take up this offer as soon as you are eligible to protect yourself, your families and your communities. Please take up this offer as soon as you are eligible to protect yourself, your families and your communities. 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. There are insufficient severe cases of Omicronas yetto analyse vaccine effectiveness against hospitalisation, but this is more likely to be sustained, particularly after a booster. This analysis found that the risk of presentation to emergency care or hospital admission with Omicron (testing for symptomatic or asymptomatic infection) was approximately half of that for Delta, while the risk of hospital admission alone with Omicron was approximately one-third of that for Delta. While prevalence remains high, make sure to wear your mask in indoor settings and take a lateral flow test before meeting others. Data on this wont be available for several weeks. Runny nose/congestion. The individual tested positive after travel to the UK and is linked to travel to Southern Africa. Experts in Kolkata say that BA.2 symptoms are mostly associated with abdomen and stomach instead of cough or shortness of breath. It will take only 2 minutes to fill in. As of 20 December,132individuals with confirmed Omicron have been admitted to or transferred from emergency departments. 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. These are potentially biologically significant mutations which may change the behaviour of the virus with regards to vaccines, treatments and transmissibility. Omicron BA.2.75, the variant derived from the BA.2 lineage which was identified internationally earlier this month, has now been categorised as a separate variant and given the designation V-22JUL-01. Aside from all of the usual COVID symptoms, like a dry cough, a scratchy throat, fatigue, and muscle aches, the Stealth variant is thought to cause a few other distinct issues. It contains epidemiological data and updated analysis of COVID-19 variants currently circulating in the UK. The designation was made on the basis that this sub-lineage has become increasingly common in the UK in recent months, and there is some early evidence that it may have an increased growth rate in the UK compared to Delta. India is another country where BA.2 is rapidly replacing the Delta and Omicron BA.1 variant, according to molecular biologist Bijaya Dhakal. 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. As with other kinds of variant, most will die off relatively quickly. 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. Please take up this offer as soon as you are eligible to protect yourself, your families and your communities. Sajid Javid, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, said: Todays new data shows how important booster jabs are to protect us against this variant. The individuals that have tested positive are not connected to each other and are not linked to the previously confirmed cases. This will include analysing live samples of the new variant in our laboratories to investigate properties including its response to current vaccines. 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. 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 BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. The majority of these cases are located in London and the South East. Hospital cases are also rising, but vaccines are still helping to stop many severe. What are the symptoms of BA.2? More evidence is needed to know whether this is due to changes in the virus behaviour or to epidemiological conditions. Neither have currently been designated as variants of concern. 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. Booster doses also increase the protection against symptomatic and asymptomatic infection which will reduce transmission in the population. Since the middle of February, this growth rate has settled at approximately 75% higher than other circulating Omicron lineages in England. The two most reported symptom of patients infected by the Stealth Omicron variant is -dizziness and fatigue. Take a vaccine to protect yourself against COVID-19. Neither BQ.1 nor XBB have been designated as variants of concern and UKHSA is monitoring the situation closely, as always. As previously published, data continues to show vaccine effectiveness against hospitalisation for Omicron remains high. Now more countries, particularly in Asia and Europe, are reporting an increase in cases driven by BA.2. 1. This suggests that BA.5 is likely to become the dominant COVID-19 variant in the UK. It remains vital that anyone with COVID-19 symptoms isolates and gets aPCRtest immediately. One individual diagnosed in hospital has sadly died. A further case has been identified in Scotland, bringing the total to 10. We have started to see cases where there are no links to travel, suggesting that we have a small amount of community transmission. 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. 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. The designation was made on the basis of increasing numbers of BA.2 sequences identified both domestically and internationally. However, it is not confirmatory as there are a number of other reasons that a sample might exhibit SGTF. So how worried should we be about this emerging 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. 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. Headache. It is therefore vital that people continue to exercise caution in order to limit the transmission of the virus. Over 40% of hospital admissions were in London. A second BTN162b2 booster was previously found to be 52% and 72% effective in preventing Omicron BA.1 infection and hospitalization, respectively, in adults 60 years. 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. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has released a new variant technical briefing detailing updated analysis of epidemiological and genomic data relating to SARS-CoV-2 variants currently circulating in the UK, including the XBB.1.5 variant which has been increasing in the US in recent months. UKHSAs most recent variant technical briefing can be found on GOV.UK. Vaccine efficacy analysis continues to show lower effectiveness for symptomatic Omicron disease. They also say that Omicron symptoms are typically mild, and herd immunity is at . The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has published its latest COVID-19 variant technical briefing. 2023 BBC. The Delta variant, for example, comprises 200 different sub-variants. The Omicron BA.2 subvariant is fast becoming the dominant strain of COVID-19, with symptoms similar to previous strains of the virus. While growth rates can be overestimated in early analyses of a new variant, the apparent growth advantage is currently substantial. 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. After 2 doses, vaccine effectiveness was 9% and 13% respectively for BA.1 and BA.2, after 25+ weeks. Currently, no experimental data has been reported about BA.2 and BA.3. However, with the spread of BA.4 and BA.5, that symptom seems to have returned, some doctors note. So far there is not enough evidence to draw conclusions about transmissibility, severity or vaccine effectiveness. 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 sub-variant of Omicron has been detected in 57 countries now, the WHO says. Data continues to show COVID-19 poses a very low health risk to children and infants. In England, the infection rate increased in those aged 25 years to 49 years and those aged 70 years and over in the week ending 21 February 2023. 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. 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. The v What we know is that it is certainly growing as a proportion of overall cases in the UK. Two-thirds with Omicron say they had Covid before. The data suggests this risk is significantly reduced following a booster vaccine, so I urge everyone to take up their booster when eligible. The individuals and their households have been told to self-isolate. This will include analysing live samples of the new variant in our laboratories to investigate properties such as response to current vaccines. It is also vital to continue with all the other precautions we have become used to throughout the pandemic keep indoor areas well ventilated, wear a face covering in enclosed spaces, and take a rapid lateral flow (or LFD) test before a situation where you may be at high risk of catching or passing on the virus. There is insufficient data to make any assessment of protection against severe disease, or to assess the severity of illness caused by Omicron. Download the data.xlsx. 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. "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 . This suggests that, as immunity begins to wane, these newly emerging BA.2 variants may fuel future waves of SARS-CoV-2 infection. The proportion of test results displaying SGTF has been very low in recent months but an increase has been observed in the past week. 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. We are continuing to monitor the data closely. These include a high temperature, a new. Added breakdown of cases by local authority to latest update. 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. So far, there have been 717 V-22OCT-01 sequences uploaded from the UK to the international GISAID database. We use some essential cookies to make this website work. This is early-stage analysis and we continue to monitor the data hour by hour. This analysis excludes individuals with confirmed previous COVID-19 infection. 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. 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 total number of confirmed cases in England is now 5. A booster dose was associated with a 74% reduced risk of hospitalisation in the first 2 to 4 weeks after vaccination, with the figure dropping to 66% 10 weeks or more after this dose. Omicron continues to grow faster than Delta, with an increased risk of transmission, particularly in contacts outside of the household. The increasing prevalence of Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 is likely to be a factor in the recent increase in cases seen in the UK and elsewhere, though there is currently no evidence that Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 cause more severe illness than previous variants. There are no confirmed cases in Northern Ireland. To help us improve GOV.UK, wed like to know more about your visit today. There is evidence that protection against symptomatic disease wanes after the second dose of vaccine, and then improves after the booster. Further studies are underway in the UK and abroad. 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. A growth rate potentially compatible with the eventual replacement of the current dominant variant.