However, increases in SGTF can give a useful early indication of variant spread. 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. 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. It is the best defence we have against this highly transmissible new variant. So far, vaccination means that the rise in cases is not translating to a rise in severe illness and deaths. 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. Thats why its critical that anyone with COVID-19 symptoms isolates and gets a PCR test immediately. Early data shows that young children who are hospitalised experience mild illness and are discharged after short stays in hospital. The Delta variant, for example, comprises 200 different sub-variants. Scratchy throat. 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. And in England, more than 1,000 confirmed cases of BA.2 have been identified, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). The newest COVID variant taking the world by storm is Omicron's stealthy sub-variant BA.2, and it seems to have brought on a new barrage of gastrointestinal symptoms with it. Data for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is not included in the UKHSA Technical Briefing. Scientists in the UK and abroad are closely monitoring BA.2, a sub-variant of Omicron. However, one must note, these are only early stage symptoms. New sub-lineages within Delta continue to be identified. A further case has been identified in Scotland, bringing the total to 10. This is consistent with analysis published yesterday by Imperial College London and the University of Edinburgh. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has published its latest COVID-19 variant technical briefing. This matches a recent study led by Oxford University and the Office for National Statistics (ONS), using data from the COVID-19 Infection Survey produced by the latter. At the moment there is much that is not yet clear. Download the data.xlsx. 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. We will continue to closely analyse all available biological, epidemiological and genomic evidence for any SARS-CoV-2 variant in the UK or internationally. 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. As is routine for any new variants under investigation, UKHSAis carrying out laboratory and epidemiological investigations to better understand the properties of this variant. 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. An important question is whether BA.2 or BA.3 will become a new dominating "variant of concern". 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. UKHSAs most recent variant technical briefing can be found on GOV.UK. #India is another country where #SARS_CoV_2 BA.2 is rapidly replacing #Delta & #Omicron BA.1. 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". Those are pretty similar to what people experience with a cold or other seasonal viruses. Data on this wont be available for several 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. Added breakdown of cases by local authority to latest update. It is not clear where BA.2 originated, but it was first detected in the Philippines in November. People infected with Omicron are also less likely to experience fever or loss of taste and smell. Although hospitalisations and deaths remain low, cases are still high in some areas and some age groups so its important that we continue to act cautiously as restrictions are lifted. 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 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. 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. The risk assessment also suggests that Omicron displays a reduction in protection offered by having had a previous infection or vaccination. Neither have currently been designated as variants of concern. Now more countries, particularly in Asia and Europe, are reporting an increase in cases driven by BA.2. However, it should serve as objective evidence that this pandemic is not over. 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. Vaccination is critical to help us bolster our defences against becoming severely ill from this new variant please get your first, second, third or booster jab without delay. Experts say BA.2 has extensive mutations and is about 40 percent more infectious than the original Omicron variant. Due to the early nature of the findings, all estimates are subject to significant uncertainty and are subject to change. Any variants showing evidence of spread are rapidly assessed. There are thought to be subtle differences in the symptoms that BA. 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. In the UK, 38 cases of XF have been identified, though none have been seen since mid February. In its early days, the variant caused an alarming spike in COVID-19 cases in South Africathey went from 300 a day in mid-November 2021 to 3,000 a day at the end of that month. Please take up this offer as soon as you are eligible to protect yourself, your families and your communities. This will include analysing live samples of the new variant in our laboratories to investigate properties such as response to current vaccines. 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. 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. 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. Where variant information was available, the majority of intensive care unit (ICU) admissions from 24 November 2021 to 19 January 2022 had Delta infections. 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. However, vaccinated people are still less likely to get infected than unvaccinated individuals, and they are also less likely to pass it on. Technical Briefing 34 contains further analysis on symptom comparison on Omicron and Delta. The first genomes of this variant were uploaded to the international GISAID database on 22 November. It contains epidemiological data and updated analysis of COVID-19 variants currently circulating in the UK. However, with the spread of BA.4 and BA.5, that symptom seems to have returned, some doctors note. While on one hand, this statement gives a ray of hope that BA.2 sub variant of Omicron which was thought to be severe is mild as the BA.1 subvariant is, but on the other hand with the report of . New studies are being undertaken to assess this further. As with previous variants, experts believe vaccines will continue to be highly effective against severe illness, hospitalisation, and death. 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 . 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. The v 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. You have accepted additional cookies. 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". Those aged 18 to 39 should wait to be called. A major ailment is not to be expected for the age group 20-50 years. UKHSAreleases weekly updates on the number of confirmed new cases of variants of concern and variants under investigation identified in the UK. The latest number of COVID-19 cases with mutations consistent with B.1.1.529 in England are published on UKHSAs social media channels. UKHSAs new analysis examines 3 recombinants, known as XF, XE, and XD. 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. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has released variant technical briefing 50. You have rejected additional cookies. There have been recent reports of people who experience symptoms like those of viral meningitis, an inflammation of the brain and spinal cord membranes. There is currently no evidence of community transmission within the UK. 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. It is projected that if current trends continue unchanged, the UK will exceed one million infections a day by the end of this month. 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. 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. The updated risk assessment includes indicators for infection severity in both adults and children. In some countries, BA.2 accounts for more than half of sequenced Omicron cases, it adds. This new mutation dubbed BA.2.75 is concerning scientists because it appears to spread fast, bypassing the protection offered by COVID-19 vaccines and immunity from previous infection, the Associated Press reported Monday. XBB.1.5 remains at very low prevalence in the UK, so estimates of growth are highly uncertain. The same happened with Omicron, which includes the lineages BA.1, BA.2, BA.3 and B.1.1.529. Hospital cases are also rising, but vaccines are still helping to stop many severe. Based on the reports from doctors treating the Covid variant and patients battling. 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. Work from home if you are able to, wear a mask indoors around other people, and ventilate indoor spaces well. 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. UKHSAis carrying out targeted testing at locations where the positive cases were likely to be infectious. Ongoing analysis by UKHSA has found no evidence that infection with Omicron BA.2 results in a greater risk of hospitalisation, compared to Omicron BA.1. Follow the latest self-isolation rules if you develop symptoms wear a mask where required to do so, take regular LFD tests and observe good hand hygiene. 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. It is already the dominant variant in several states and likely drove the country's recent third wave of infections. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. While signs remain encouraging on Omicrons severity compared with Delta, the high levels of community transmission continue and may cause pressures on health services. The variant technical briefing also includes updated analysis on Omicron BA.2, currently the dominant variant in the UK. There will be no other categorisation of variants, including no variant under investigation (VUI) category. 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.. 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. The latest UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) COVID-19 variant technical briefing, published today, includes updated epidemiological analysis which indicates that Omicron BA.5 has, as expected, become the dominant SARS-CoV-2 variant in the UK. This analysis is not an assessment of hospital severity, which will take further time to assess. UKHSA analysis shows that the risk of hospital admission for an identified case with Omicron is reduced compared to a case of Delta. Since the middle of February, this growth rate has settled at approximately 75% higher than other circulating Omicron lineages in England. The latest version raising alarms is an emerging subvariant of Omicron called BA.2. SGTF is not a 100% accurate test for Omicron and results are regularly evaluated against sequencing to ensure they are interpreted correctly. The individuals that have tested positive are not connected to each other and are not linked to the previously confirmed cases. The following are the symptoms of this subvariant: The most common symptom is a sore throat that causes dryness, itching, and pain in the throat Low-grade fever Runny nose Sneezing Mild to moderate fatigue Headache Many people who have Omicron say it feels like a common cold, and here are the 8 early warning signs you need to look out for. 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 UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has identified 2 further cases of COVID-19 with mutations consistent with B.1.1.529 in England, in addition to the previous 3 confirmed cases of the SARS-CoV-2 variant known as B.1.1.529 on 27 and 28 November. According to the CDC, the Omicron variant spreads more easily than the original SARS-CoV-2 virus and the Delta variant. 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. These include a high temperature, a new. 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. 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.2, also known as "stealth omicron," is considered a subvariant of omicron. Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid said: This data is yet more evidence that vaccines remain our best line of defence against COVID-19. There are simple things you can do in your daily life that will help reduce the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory infections and protect those at highest risk. All age groups are affected, including the 75s and over, who are due a spring booster jab to top up protection. BA.2 Omicron Subvariant Can Damage Your Lungs, Cause More Severe Disease Than You Can Expect: Study BA.2 Omicron Subvariant Can Damage Your Lungs, Cause More Severe Disease Than You Can. As viruses mutate often and at random, it is not unusual for small numbers of cases to arise featuring new sets of mutations. This will include analysing live samples of the new variant in our laboratories to investigate properties including its response to current vaccines. To help us improve GOV.UK, wed like to know more about your visit today. 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. Our continued genomic surveillance allows us to detect them and assess whether they are significant. As of 20 October, there were 15,120 cases of VUI-21OCT-01 confirmed by whole genome sequences in England since it was first detected in July. Delta remains the predominant variantin England, accounting for over 99% of all COVID-19 cases. 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. After 2 doses, vaccine effectiveness was 9% and 13% respectively for BA.1 and BA.2, after 25+ weeks. The BA.2 subvariant of the COVID-19 virus is now the dominant coronavirus strain in the world, and while health officials are saying the subvariant acts like the original omicron version of the . This analysis excludes individuals with confirmed previous COVID-19 infection. 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. People suffering From the Omicron BA2 variant said they had fever and body Aches. The risk of catching or passing on COVID-19 is greatest when someone who is infected is physically close to, or sharing an enclosed or poorly ventilated space with, other people. 1 case has been identified in Wales. The BA.2 subvariant of Omicron, or the "stealth" variant, has been outcompeting the previously dominant BA.1 subvariant in several countries. News stories, speeches, letters and notices, Reports, analysis and official statistics, Data, Freedom of Information releases and corporate reports. As part of UKHSAs routine genomic surveillance, approximately 15 to 20% of all positive PCR tests are also sent for sequencing. In total, 40 countries have uploaded 8,040 BA.2 sequences to GISAID since 17 November 2021. 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. According to the COVID Symptom Study, the five most common symptoms are the same: Runny nose, headache, fatigue, sneezing and sore throat. In the most recent week of data (specimen dates from 30 November 2021 reported as of 6 December), the number of cases with SGTF has increased to 705. 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. UKHSA is carrying out targeted testing at locations where the positive cases were likely to be infectious. Based on the CDC's genomic surveillance, the BA.2 or stealth Omicron subvariant is responsible for most new SARS-CoV-2 infections in the U.S. BA.2 is a subvariant of the original SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant (B.1.1.529), along with BA.1.1 and BA.3. Delta and Omicron Cases are being eclipsed by BA2 Variant rapidly. All 3 subvariants have spike protein mutations of L452 and elude immunity from prior BA1 infection. Whilst the impact of these variants is uncertain, the variant classification system aims to identify potential risk as early as possible. UKHSA will continue to monitor the situation closely as a matter of routine, as we do all data relating to SARS-CoV-2 variants both in the UK and internationally.