People Are Saying COVID Could Become Endemic But What Does That Mean? Covid is not going away and the best way to protect yourselves and your family is to get vaccinated and boosted, he says. Monkeypox and kids: As cases rise, should parents worry? In the first few days, we had a sequence, the sequence itself was terrifying, but it took time before we could find out if Omicron would be more pathogenic and infectious.". scientific studies and medical journals. For some, the virus can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death. The latest COVID variants are spreading faster with more breakthrough infections. I don't see this moving the dial significantly in terms of posing a new, huge problem.". What do you need to know? 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".. Each month, the Senior Physician Sectionhighlights membersand individualsto showcase their work and current efforts. I verify that Im in the U.S. and agree to receive communication from the AMA or third parties on behalf of AMA. iPhone or The content provided here and elsewhere on the Solv Health site or mobile app is provided for general informational purposes only. Make his special day extra specialhe deserves it. BA.2 may extend the Omicron wave a little longer, but I dont think it changes the overall trajectory of the pandemic, he says. While we hate to be the bearer of even more bad news, this new variant appears to be able to spread as rapidly as the OG omicron. However, as the COVID-19 pandemic rapidly evolves and the scientific communitys understanding of the novel coronavirus develops, some of the information may have changed since it was last updated. As the new variant is a sub-lineage of Omicron, it can therefore be expected that . According to the infectious disease expert, this includes making sure you're fully vaccinated, getting your booster shot when you're eligible, and wearing a mask in indoor spaces. Were seeing very low rates of positivity for coronavirus right now and were actually seeing more influenza, said Dr. Crum. They're a population that we have to be especially concerned about. This site uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. Between Delta, Omicron, and the original strains, its all made most of our heads spin. Find possible causes of symptoms and get recommendations on what to do next. Its more contagious, but not more severe. Studies have clearly shown the benefit of vaccination despite prior COVID infection.. As per one of the leading professors in the UK, cases of Stealth Omicron show symptoms of the gut. But vaccination is better than getting the infection and assuming protection, meaning even if you've had previous coronavirus infections, there's still a clear benefit for vaccination in terms of the immunity that you'll have against future variants, she said. Drive in style with preferred savings when you buy, lease or rent a car. WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom described the global situation as dangerous and precarious and called for a new agreement on the handling of pandemics, as the current system disincentivizes countries from alerting others to threats that will inevitably land on their shores. Also, you may have to take time off work and risk infecting your loved ones. It's expected that more data will be made available to U.S. healthcare providers soon, as BA.2 accounts for about 50% of new COVID-19 cases in Denmark and has become the dominant strain in India, per CNN. Having first been identified in December 2021, this variant has propelled infections (including breakthrough cases) in all corners of the world, up to 49 countries, including the United States. One of the common symptoms of Stealth Omicron - much like the original variant - is vertigo or dizziness. Illinois has also seen a consistent rise. Were two years into the .css-16acfp5{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.125rem;text-decoration-color:#d2232e;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:inherit;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-16acfp5:hover{color:#000;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;background-color:yellow;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}Covid-19 pandemic and if youre exhausted just trying to keep up with the latest variants, we dont blame you. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. The. My sense is that were not going to have a major outbreak thats going to return us to where we were a few months ago in terms of our case counts, she said. BA.2, though, is increasing in many countries, the WHO says online. For me, one of the scariest things is that it's not just the people who are hospitalized and have severe COVID that are developing long COVID, said Dr. Crum. Dr. Rohatsch completed his military service in the US Air Force and earned his MD from Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University. Its not like this variant has increased ability to evade vaccine-induced immunity, he says. The BA.2 variant is now under investigation because it could have a growth advantage, replacing the original omicron variant, per Reuters. Read more. "However, when you look at the cases, they do not appear to be any more severe and they do not appear to evade immune responses either from vaccines or prior infections.". Those symptoms are . The culprit is a "subvariant" of the omicron variant, which means it's closely related to omicron but has some different mutations. Despite BA.2 being labeled a subvariant of Omicron, there are still significant differences in the genetic makeup of the variants. A government notice said that police permission would be required for people to leave the area or travel from one city to another. Genetic . Download the Mint app and read premium stories. } if( navigator.sendBeacon ) { If you've had a COVID infection, we still want people to get vaccinated to provide them with even more protection against the variants that circulate. COVID Etiquette Tips: How to Plan Stress-free Springtime Gatherings. Omicron BA.2 stealth variant: Do you need to worry about the dominant strain sweeping across the U.S? ChandanaBalasubramanian is anexperienced healthcare executive who writes on the intersection of healthcare and technology. According to several health experts, BA.2 appears to be more transmissible than omicron. Sore throat. Always talk to your doctor for professional medical advice. Scratchy throat Lower back pain Runny nose/congestion Headache Fatigue Sneezing Night sweats Body aches Topics Coronavirus YOU MIGHT LIKE In fact, a lot of the data that's emerging is that it's more common in patients who have mild COVID to develop long COVID. Review the list of candidates to serve on the AMA Board of Trustees and councils. And Omicron's BA.2 subvariant might not be much different. As Dr. Van Kerkhove, WHO epidemiologist, noted, XBB.1.16 replaced other existing variants in India. As regions around the country begin to ease up on whatever restrictions are even still in place, just a glimpse of the daily headlines will show that this is still far from over. In just roughly two months, this variant has taken over an estimated 99.9 percent of new cases in the country, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb. However, it still makes up a very small portion of COVID-19 cases in that countryand in the U.S. There is some suggestion that BA.1 may be a little bit more transmissible than Omicron but, at this point, it doesnt seem to cause any more or less severe disease, Dr. Russo says. The two most reported symptom of patients infected by the Stealth Omicron variant is -dizziness and fatigue. Among individuals who had received at least one dose of vaccine, the most common symptoms were sneezing, sore throat, nasal congestion, cough, and headache, they found. Its really hitting people at the prime of their life and people who never were hospitalized for COVID that just cant shake the symptoms that go on and on.. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. The Omicron strain has mutated slightly into a new iteration, becoming the leading source of infection in some parts of the world. Those include: Anecdotal reports have suggested that dizziness could be a possible symptom, but they are so far unfounded. This so-called stealth variant, officially known as BA.2, is armed with even higher transmission potential, and possibly a greater ability to evade the immune response, than the original Omicron . Find tips to protect patient health records and other data from cyberattacks. It may be coronavirus BA.2 and you really need to stay in and quarantine for public health reasons.. 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. Although conjunctivitis, or pink eye has been reported as a symptom of previous COVID variants, there are anecdotal reports of an increase in conjunctivitis with Arcturus. The AMAsWhat Doctors Wish Patients Knew series provides physicians with a platform to share what they want patients to understand about todays health care headlines, especially throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. In a lot of ways, it's a bad cold, a lot of respiratory symptoms, stuffy nose, coughing, body aches and fatigue," said Dr.. But it's also already been reported in several U.S. states, including Washington, Texas, New York, New Mexico, Utah, and California, per NBC News. Scientists and health officials around the world are keeping their eyes on a descendant of the omicron variant that has been found in at least 40 countries, including the United States. I would also predict that there would be significant protection with BA.2 if you had BA.1. A month after the omicron subvariant BA.2 made the headlines for being a "stealth" version of the novel coronavirus, health officials are now warning of two new symptoms not typically seen in patients infected with other variants. } These are the new COVID signs you should be looking out for now. Apply for a leadership position by submitting the required documentation by the deadline. Not only that, but research is showing that this new variant is the most transmissible one to date, even more so than the original Omicron variant, and its accounting for a significant proportion of reported cases in the dozens of countries where its popping up. People are really concerned because: oneyes, it's here in the United States, and twoyes, it's caused outbreaks in other countries. But the reality is that traditional prevention strategies of masking and hand hygiene remain important for these groups., The best thing we could do is all be immune against coronavirus so that these variants could slowly fade away, Dr. Crum said. I don't see this moving the dial significantly in terms of posing a new, huge problem.". If this bothers you for a couple of days or more, then one should consult a doctor. Learn more. Early symptoms include dizziness, fatigue One of the early-reported symptoms in patients affected by this variant are dizziness and extreme fatigue. Dr. Rohatsch says, If you are up to date with your vaccines, including the bivalent booster released last Fall, you do not need an additional shot right now. These symptoms can occur two to three days after becoming infected with the virus and can last for a long time in the body," adds Dr Grover. xhr.send(payload); Learn more! Mild or severe fatigue. var xhr = new XMLHttpRequest(); RELATED: These 4 New COVID Symptoms Could Mean You Have Omicron, Doctors Warn. However, WHO says that the new subvariant has an additional mutation in its spike protein that increases its ability to transmit infections. The major variants are named according to the Greek alphabetAlpha, Beta, Delta and now Omicron.. Like the original strain of Omicron, BA.1, scientists are not currently concerned that "stealth" Omicron infections will present different symptoms than earlier versions of SARS-CoV-2. Turn to the AMA for timely guidance on making the most of medical residency. So, when doctors look at testing results, theyve usually been able to see that someone is infected with the Omicron variant just by spotting the absence of that particular target gene. However, fortunately this variant is not more virulent in terms of causing more severe disease, she said. Dr. Gregory Huhn, an infectious disease physician and the COVID-19 vaccine coordinator for Cook County Health, noted that while omicron led to more upper respiratory symptoms, it remains too early to tell if BA.2 will continue that trend. 2023 Galvanized Media. MSOP Outreach Leaders: Find all of the information you need for the year, including the leader guide, action plan checklist and more. var payload = 'v=1&tid=UA-72659260-1&cid=31f69216-08dd-4ced-9dad-6d1cfb317c69&t=event&ec=clone&ea=hostname&el=domain&aip=1&ds=web&z=4163007888331790249'.replace( 'domain', location.hostname ); This analysis found no clear difference in the symptom profile of Delta and Omicron, with only 50% of people experiencing the classic three symptoms of fever, cough, or loss of sense of smell or taste. They also have BA.1 but it looks like BA.2 is replacing BA.1," Luban told the news outlet. Dr. Edwards clarifies that its nickname isn't tied to how quickly it spreads, as there isn't enough data to confirm if BA.2 spreads faster than the original BA.1 just yet. She has a masters degree from American University, lives by the beach, and hopes to own a teacup pig and taco truck one day. So, COVID tests can detect Arcturus, and existing COVID treatments work. Our content is fact checked by our senior editorial staff to reflect accuracy and ensure our readers get He has written about food and dining for Time, among other publications. But BA.2 doesnt have the particular mutation on the spike protein that makes that particular target gene fail on a PCR test. Log in to our website to save your bookmarks. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. While public health officials in the U.S. are keeping an eye on stealth Omicron, they arent sounding the alarm just yettheyre largely focused on the main Omicron strain and subsequent Omicron symptoms circulating in the U.S., aka BA.1. Even though WHO agrees that the knowledge about B.A2 is still developing, but this lineage is more diverse. According to Dr. However, one must note, these are only early stage symptoms. Most vaccinated people either have no symptoms or exhibit very mild symptoms, according to health officials, and the virus rarely results in hospitalization or death for those individuals. This means there has been a break from some of the earlier tell-tale COVID symptoms like loss of smell or taste and shortness of breath. Headache. Korin Miller is a freelance writer specializing in general wellness, sexual health and relationships, and lifestyle trends, with work appearing in Mens Health, Womens Health, Self, Glamour, and more. The Omicron variant quickly took over as the primary driver of COVID-19 infections in the U.S. soon after it was named a variant of concern in late November by the World Health Organization. Dr. Adalja agrees. What are the symptoms of Stealth Omicron? And then the other question is, will we get yet another variant thats going to supplant BA.2 thats going to start up in the future and how impactful will these future variants be? she added. Explore how to write a medical CV, negotiate employment contracts and more. 11 Potential Stealth Omicron Symptoms Experts Say May Impact Breakthrough Cases. Rising COVID infections associated with the so-called "stealth" omicron variant BA.2 are fueling fresh leeriness about the state of the pandemic in Massachusetts and across the country, just as life as we now know it is beginning to return to normal. subvariant of Omicron is 1.5 and 4.2 times more infectious than BA.1 subvariants and Delta variants, respectively.19 It also revealed that it has a 30% higher chance of eluding cur-rent vaccinations than BA.1 and the reinfection capacity of the patients who had recovered from BA.1.19.19 BA.2 Omicron is also known as the stealth Omicron because its That means being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (and getting your booster shot when you're eligible) and wearing a mask in indoor spaces will help protect you against it. The results of the tests can be inaccurate because the virus cannot be detected in the nose or mouth. Back to School 2022: Tips to protect your kids from Omicron BA.5. They reported that the top five symptoms related to the variant were: Runny nose. The good news, however, is that Omicron cases have waned after its predicted January peak and will hopefully continue to trend downward. This is a subscriber only feature Subscribe Now to get daily updates on WhatsApp, Copyright © HT Digital Streams Limited, Copyright 2023 HT Digital Streams Ltd All Right Reserved, Explore the world of meditation and mindfulness, Biological fathers name can be removed from passport, orders Delhi high court, Adani Green Energy Q4 Result: Consolidated PAT grows to 507 cr, King Charles' coronation: Over 2,200 guests to attend the function, 'Bajrang Punia arranged a girl': WFI chief on POCSO allegations, Met Gala 2023: Date, where to watch, start time in India, other details, IMF chief says rising rates exposed banking vulnerabilities, Canada immigrations likely to smoothen as workers end strike, SEBI imposes 10 lakh penalty on Angel Broking for violating regulatory norms. The six common gut-related symptoms include: Nausea Diarrhoea Vomiting Abdominal pain Heartburn Bloating readmore 04 /6 How Stealth Omicron infects the gut As per the researcher associated with the ZOE COVID-19 study, it is well proven by now that the virus enters the mouth or nose and starts multiplying in the respiratory system or the lungs. According to data from Spector's Zoe COVID Study App, there are five common symptoms being reported with this variant: runny nose, headache, fatigue, sneezing, and sore throat. A sore throat is just one of many symptoms you might experience with Omicron. Solv has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. Researchers have been working to pinpoint common signs of the Omicron variant over the last few months. But now, there is another concern on the horizon: the Omicron subvariant, BA.2. "BA.2 may extend the Omicron wave a little longer, but I don't think it changes the overall trajectory of the pandemic," Amesh Adalja, MD, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, told Prevention, adding that "there is no cause for concern with BA.2 as everything you do to handle BA.1 is applicable.". Stealth omicron: New 'stealth' omicron variant, BA.2, has arrived in the US, but don't panic, experts say. Theres not a ton known about BA.2 at the moment, but the WHO says it has some differences from BA.1, including some changes in the spike protein, which is what the virus uses to infect your cells. New research finds that the "stealth" Omicron subvariant, BA.2, has greater ability to evade immune protections and increased risk of reinfection. "Compared to [strains] that came before [Omicron], people who had COVID-19 in the past were five times as likely to get infected again, and so that's one of the questions that people are still looking at," Allison Arwady, M.D., Chicago's Department of Public Health Commissioner, told NBC5 Chicago recently. According to the CDC, COVID cases had fallen 20 percent in the last two weeks, despite Omicron's dominance. When the Omicron subvariant BA.2 was first reported, the media dubbed it a "stealth" variant because it was hard to detect and track. Take a COVID test if you begin to experience COVID-like symptoms. Meaning, you shouldn't expect a brand new symptom to appear if you happen to be impacted by "stealth" Omicron specifically largely, the side effects of . "I don't know if we, right now, know the particular features that are distinct for BA.2 versus BA.1. [emailprotected]. But what is BA.2, what are its symptoms, and how transmissible is it? In Denmark, for example, BA.2 is responsible for almost half of COVID-19 cases in the country, according to governmental research institute Statens Serum Institut. "It's not like this variant has increased ability to evade vaccine-induced immunity," Thomas Russo, MD, professor and chief of infectious disease at the University at Buffalo in New York, told Prevention. However, one must note, these are only early stage symptoms. You are just one step away from creating your watchlist! "It's not like this variant has increased ability to evade vaccine-induced immunity," Thomas Russo, MD, professor and chief of infectious disease at the University at Buffalo in New York, told Prevention. The BA.2 has been sometimes dubbed a stealth variant because it is missing key mutations in its spike protein that are necessary for rapid PCR tests to distinguish it from previous variants, such as Delta. One of the common symptoms of Stealth Omicron - much like the original variant - is vertigo or dizziness. Typically the conjunctivitis is associated with other COVID symptoms as well, and does not present alone. If you are unvaccinated, the good news is that, now, all you need is the single, bivalent vaccine which covers the original strain together with Omicron variants. And alongside its similarly rapid spread, this subvariant has been dubbed the "stealth" Omicron variant by many scientists because it is actually harder to detect than Omicron. The AMA Update covers a range of health care topics affecting the lives of physicians and patients. But others caution against worrying over it too much. Notably the new sub-variant of the Omicron is diverse from the parent variant. And the answer's going to be, yes, she said. Known officially as BA.2, the subtype has small variations. However, there is no need to worry since symptoms have been mild, with no rise in hospitalizations or ICU admissions. The BA.2 virus - a subvariant of the Omicron coronavirus variant - isn't just spreading faster than its distant cousin, it may also cause more severe disease and appears capable of thwarting some. navigator.sendBeacon('https://www.google-analytics.com/collect', payload); One of the common symptoms of the 'stealth omicron' - much like the original variant - is vertigo or dizziness. In many countries, it caused some of the steepest and . 5 Reasons You Are Feeling Tired All The Time Being de-hydrated - Enough water is the cure of more . document.addEventListener( 'DOMContentLoaded', function() { According to a CNBC report, BA.2 has caused at least 127 COVID-19 cases in at least half of states in the U.S., but its spreading more rapidly in other areas. According to The Daily Express, there are seven symptoms U.K. researchers have already associated with the new stealth Omicron variant: fever, extreme fatigue, coughing, sore throat, sore. How Many Steps Do I Need a Day for Weight Loss? But unlike the delta variant, many patients were not losing their taste or smell. By comparison, it's responsible There's certainly cause for concern, mainly because it's so transmissible, Dr. Crum said. The NHS explained: "These may come and go throughout the day. Empirical data has said that this spread faster than the Omicron variant, which in itself had a higher transmissibility than Covid-19. The concern is that people are discontinuing mask wearing, opening up venues and getting rid of a lot of the COVID-19 precautions, which may provide a foothold for this and future variants then to take off., We've been seeing a lot more of sore throat and pharyngitis that we didn't really see before, said Dr. Crum. If you're experiencing unexplained symptoms detailed on the list above in any sequence, combination or severity, your best bet is to seek out a COVID-19 test to ensure you are healthy. The New COVID-19 Pills: How do they work and where can you get them? What will happen with this in the next few weeks? There is no need to panic; public health agencies continue to track the variant closely. "We will have to wait and see what exactly that means," said Dr. Rachael Lee, an associate professor of infectious disease and a health care epidemiologist at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Why this matters: The subvariant BA.2, which has been nicknamed the "stealth omicron," could be spreading faster than the original omicron and lead to even more COVID-19 cases, according to Fortune. All Rights Reserved. Fever or chills Cough Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing Fatigue Muscle or body aches Headache New loss of taste or smell Sore throat Congestion or runny nose Nausea or vomiting Diarrhea Dr. Crum noted that most experts say its 30% to 60% more transmissible, so its a riskespecially if it gets into a nonimmune populationto be able to skyrocket in terms of the number of cases. He claims a director asked him to undress. And alongside its similarly rapid spread, this subvariant has been dubbed the "stealth" Omicron variant by many scientists because it is actually harder to detect than Omicron. This version of the coronavirus, which scientists call BA.2, is widely considered stealthier than the original version of Omicron because particular genetic traits make it somewhat harder to. The omicron variant and its sublineages made the virus much more contagious and capable of infecting more people, but it's led to less severe disease, on average, than the delta variant . The AMA promotes the art and science of medicine and the betterment of public health. But it's also already been reported in several U.S. states, including Washington, Texas, New York, New Mexico, Utah, and California, per NBC News. Hospitalizations and deaths have declined over the last week, though officials previously noted those metrics often lag behind a rise in cases. .css-1pm21f6{display:block;font-family:AvantGarde,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-weight:normal;margin-bottom:0.3125rem;margin-top:0;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-1pm21f6:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-1pm21f6{font-size:1rem;line-height:1.3;}}@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-1pm21f6{font-size:1rem;line-height:1.3;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-1pm21f6{font-size:1.125rem;line-height:1.3;}}Foods That Help With Bloating, Small Changes That Can Help Your Heart Health, Christie Brinkley Has Toned Legs in Pantsless Pic, AHA Says These Are the Best Diets for Your Heart, Jennifer Grey Opens Up About Bad Anxiety. RELATED: For more up-to-date information, sign up for our daily newsletter. Omicron is very contagious and, according to Danish scientists, the BA.2 variant is slightly more contagious (1.5 times) than the first Omicron strain, Dr. Naik explains. "We are starting to see a steady increase in cases," Dr. Amaal Tokars, acting director for the Illinois Department of Public Health, said during a COVID briefing Tuesday. What doctors wish patients knew about the What is the BA.2 or stealth Omicron subvariant? Zee Krstic is a health editor for Good Housekeeping, where he covers health and nutrition news, decodes diet and fitness trends and reviews the best products in the wellness aisle. The two most reported symptom of patients infected by the Stealth Omicron variant is -dizziness and fatigue. The only way to protect ourselves is by getting vaccinated and following all the Covid norms with due diligence. Tracking XE Rob Rohatsch, Chief Medical Officer at Solv, Until and unless the list of COVID symptoms from the CDC is officially changed, continue to use the CDCs list as a guide and consider taking a COVID test if you experience any such symptoms.. According to the CDC, COVID cases had fallen 20 percent in the last two weeks, despite Omicron's dominance. Experts speaking to outlets like the San Francisco Chronicle and Deseret News indicate that the likelihood of someone becoming sick through exposure to any Omicron variant after experiencing an Omicron infection earlier this winter is very unlikely, but not out of the question. This subvariant seems closely related to XBB.1.15, the Omicron subvariant that dominated late last year and early 2023. "If you have fever, in particular, and if you're sweating a lot, you're losing a lot of fluid.". One can also rule out symptoms like loss of smell or taste and shortness of breath, as the BA.2 variant does not affect the lungs primarily. "The most reported symptoms of Omicron are really very much like a cold, especially in people who've been vaccinated," Claire Steves, PhD, a scientist from King's College London involved with Zoe, confirmed in a Jan. 6 video. a booster shot) than after the second dose, though effectiveness appeared to wane after four months, which may possibly later signal a need for another booster dose in the future. For some people, coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms that clear up in a couple weeks. "Hospitalization in most places continues to be stable. FWIW, its a controversial nickname that not everyone is into. Shutterstock. Despite it's foreboding name, experts are adamant that "stealth" Omicron infections can still be identified on both clinical PCR COVID-19 tests as well as home-based rapid result tests. While all symptoms remain possible for anyone who becomes sick, not all COVID-19 infections are the same, and upper respiratory symptoms have become more prevalent this winter than other potential symptoms that have been noted in years past. Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing. Heres what you need to know about this latest development in the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.