ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb. The content provided here and elsewhere on the Solv Health site or mobile app is provided for general informational purposes only. The good news is that many places in the United States continue to report decreased or very low rates of cases and hospitalizations, Dr. Crum said. var xhr = new XMLHttpRequest(); Typically the conjunctivitis is associated with other COVID symptoms as well, and does not present alone. 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. However, one must note, these are only early stage symptoms. 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. Still, omicron presented a shift in common symptoms for many. I verify that Im in the U.S. and agree to receive communication from the AMA or third parties on behalf of AMA. Fever or chills Cough Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing Fatigue Muscle or body aches Headache New loss of taste or smell Sore throat or hoarse voice Congestion or runny nose Nausea or vomiting Diarrhoea High temperature Continuous cough Back pain A loss of appetite Delerium Heartburn Bloating Sleep paralysis Skin rash Night sweats Experts say BA.2 has extensive mutations and . RELATED: These 4 New COVID Symptoms Could Mean You Have Omicron, Doctors Warn. The highly transmissible and contagious BA.2 Omicron subvariantdubbed stealth Omicronis now the dominant strain in the United States, causing more than 85% of all COVID-19 cases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The original omicron variant, which scientists call BA.1 or B.1.1.529, was until recently the most transmissible known version of the virus. All rights reserved, I-55 Shut Down in Both Directions Due to Large Crash' Amid Dust Storm in South-Central Illinois, Tickets to Soldier Field Face-Off Between Chelsea and Dortmund Go on Sale, Portillo's Adds New Menu Item to Restaurants Nationwide and It's Now Available, How Much Could You Get in New $725M Facebook Settlement? Currently, no new symptoms have been identified. "This may mean higher peak infections in places that have yet to peak, and a slowdown in the downward trends in places that have already experienced peak Omicron,"Thomas Peacock, PhD, a virologist at Imperial College London, explain to The New York Times. Heres what you need to know about this latest development in the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. sore throat. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This might be especially true given the fact that no research has indicated that the subvariant is any more likely to counteract the efficacy of our COVID vaccines. Its not the old people or the people with severe disease. Always contact your healthcare provider directly with any questions you may have regarding your health or specific medical advice. If its a more minor shift in the genetic sequencing, then it becomes a subvariant, she said, noting that Omicron BA.1 was the major variant that supplanted Delta and that happened over the winter months. None of us know. 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.. Also, you may have to take time off work and risk infecting your loved ones. There is no need to panic; public health agencies continue to track the variant closely. Additionally, adults who received a primary vaccine and booster dose of Johnson & Johnsons Janssen COVID-19 vaccine at least four months ago may now receive a second booster dose with an mRNA vaccine. So, we really haven't seen this variant take off. The NHS explained: "These may come and go throughout the day. Two years into the pandemic, a mutated version of the omicron variant, known as BA.2, has become the latest challenge to taming Covid-19. "Last week in Denmark, BA.2 was about 60 percent of the cases. With the rolling back of mask requirements and physical distancing, many people have been on a search for a new normal. How Many Steps Do I Need a Day for Weight Loss? Emerging research has been showing that Omicron is more likely to affect the upper respiratory tract instead of the lungs, unlike some prior versions of the virus, according to WHO. "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. Symptoms of infection don't appear to be any different so far from the original omicron strain. 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. 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. Is it just going to be there at low levels causing a few cases or are we going to see an upsurge of cases over the next several weeks? While it will still take time to know even more about BA.2, some virus experts have already pinpointed some potential common signs of the stealth Omicron variant. While it will still take time to know even more about BA.2, some virus experts have already pinpointed some potential common signs of the stealth Omicron variant. But for some people, they will get infected with this new subvariant. increases its ability to transmit infections, https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/21042023xbb.1.16ra-v2.pdf?sfvrsn=84577350_1, https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#variant-proportions, https://www.solvhealth.com/blog/xbb15-what-do-you-need-to-know, https://www.who.int/multi-media/details/who-press-conference-on-covid-19-and-other-global-health-issues-29-march-2023, https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/72/wr/mm7205e1.htm?s_cid=mm7205e1_w, https://www.thequint.com/fit/arcturus-xbb-116-covid-variant-symptoms-cases-in-india, https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html, https://abcnews.go.com/US/video/new-covid-19-variant-arcturus-rise-us-98800298, https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/coronavirus-covid-19-update-fda-authorizes-changes-simplify-use-bivalent-mrna-covid-19-vaccines, https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/faq.html. Solv has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. Not only that, but the available vaccines appear to be effective against this variant, especially for those who received a booster shot, Dr. Naik says. In this Overcoming Obstacles webinar, experts will discuss the nuances of caring for geriatric patients and the importance of addressing their mental and behavioral health needs as they age. Review the list of candidates to serve on the AMA Board of Trustees and councils. Its a whirlwind of activities with lots of planning Another day, another COVID-19 variant in the news at least thats what it feels like these days. The culprit is a "subvariant" of the omicron variant, which means it's closely related to omicron but has some different mutations. daily newsletter, This One Symptom Could Be Your First Sign of Omicron, Doctors Warn. We have prophylactic monoclonal antibodies that have been developed and could be considered in those patients who we really think do not have good immunity against the virus, she added. The virus mutating due to environmental factors and geographical area leads to several changes in the nature and structure of the virus. If youre 50 or older and its been at least four months since your last booster, or if you have a compromised immune system, you are eligible for another mRNA booster to increase protection against severe disease from COVID-19. The five most common Omicron symptoms, as reported by the ZOE Covid study, are as follows: Runny nose Headache Fatigue (mild or severe) Sneezing Sore throat Is stealth Omicron dangerous?. .css-13y9o4w{display:block;font-family:GraphikBold,GraphikBold-fallback,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-weight:bold;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:0;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-13y9o4w:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-13y9o4w{font-size:1.05rem;line-height:1.2;margin-bottom:0.25rem;}}@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-13y9o4w{font-size:1.28598rem;line-height:1.2;}}@media(min-width: 48rem){.css-13y9o4w{font-size:1.39461rem;line-height:1.2;margin-bottom:0.5rem;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-13y9o4w{font-size:1.23488rem;line-height:1.3;}}The Difference Between a Heart Attack and a Stroke, 9 Signs You May Develop Erectile Dysfunction, 6 Harmless Reasons You Can't Get An Erection, Signs You're Having an Existential Crisis, Covid Shots After the Public Health Emergency Ends, A Day in the Life of a (Clueless) Medical Intern, What the Covid Public Health Emergency End Means, What Is a Pulmonary Embolism From 'Succession', I Stopped Reading Political News for 30 Days. Stealth Omicron: New variant seen in 'all regions in England' - top 20 symptoms to spot OMICRON took the world by surprise, spreading like wildfire and sparking fears of immune escape. Here's What We Know So Far, 25-Year-Old Makes $200/Hour Without a Bachelor's Degree: I Work Less Than 6 Hours a Day', Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing. "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. 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. According to current CDC guidance, COVID-19 symptoms may manifest in sick individuals anywhere from two to 14 days after someone has been exposed to SARS-CoV-2. So what this is going to mean for us is really the big question, Dr. Crum said. Dr. Crum is also an alternate delegate in the AMA House of Delegates for the Infectious Diseases Society of America. 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. In the event of a medical emergency, dial 911 or visit your closest emergency room immediately. "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. navigator.sendBeacon('https://www.google-analytics.com/collect', payload); RELATED: This One Symptom Could Be Your First Sign of Omicron, Doctors Warn. According to the U.K. Zoe COVID Study App, the five most frequently reported signs of the original version of this variant are runny nose, headache, fatigue, sneezing, and sore throat. Why Trust Us? The only way to protect ourselves is by getting vaccinated and following all the Covid norms with due diligence. How to protect yourself. According to experts, this is actually referring to a new omicron variant that has proven to frequently be mistaken for the Delta variant via PCR testing. But I'm less confident in that statement than I would have been for prior variants, given what we've seen.". Even though WHO agrees that the knowledge about B.A2 is still developing, but this lineage is more diverse. We avoid using tertiary references. As far as the contagiousness of the subvariant is concerned it can spread as easily as its parent variant. 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. 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. University of California, Irvine School of Medicine, current vaccines provide similar protection, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing. It may seem like the world will never return to the normal we once knew in the before times, and Dr. Naik says thats not that far off from the truth. [emailprotected]. Oops! "BA.2 has a number of mutations that BA.1 does not have that are in the region of genomes that concerns us," Jeremy Luban, MD, a professor of molecular medicine, biochemistry, and molecular pharmacology at University of Massachusetts Medical School, told Verywell Health. Remove some to bookmark this image. The three main symptoms of Covid-19, according to the NHS, are a new persistent cough, high temperature and loss of taste and smell. As Dr. Van Kerkhove, WHO epidemiologist, noted, XBB.1.16 replaced other existing variants in India. But the bottom line is that staying on top of vaccine guidelines and recommendations, along with continuing to stay home if you feel sick and regularly wash your hands, are the best things you can do to stay healthy and live your life. The symptoms COVID infections, according to the CDC, include: Fever or chills Cough Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing Fatigue Muscle or body aches Headache New loss of taste or smell. "I have not seen anything to indicate that the symptoms with BA.2 are different from BA.1," Dr. Edwards says. These symptoms can appear within two-three days after getting infected with the virus and may linger in the body for longer. As you navigate the new year, the last thing you COVID made us rethink our daily routines to keep from getting sick and to protect others from the virus. In addition to Runner's World, she has contributed health, fitness and wellness content to Women's Health, SELF, Prevention, Healthline, and the Houston Chronicle, among other publications. The CDC lists the following COVID symptoms: Symptoms of COVID are similar to other infections, like the flu. "It's like when Omicron first hit. Get the latest news in medicine and public health delivered to your inbox MondayFriday. 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 . 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. headache. Infectious disease experts break it down. .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. However, there is no need to worry since symptoms have been mild, with no rise in hospitalizations or ICU admissions. Experts say you shouldnt stress about this variant. They also have BA.1 but it looks like BA.2 is replacing BA.1," Luban told the news outlet. 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".. New studies are showing that its symptoms are generally the same as other variants and remain mostly mild to moderate flu-like symptoms, especially if vaccinated. And while numbers in the country are still on the lower side, some virus experts have expressed concern that BA.2 could stall the progress that is being made in the U.S. If there's a question, take a test The New COVID-19 Pills: How do they work and where can you get them? And the answer's going to be, yes, she said. Emilia Benton is a Houston-based freelance writer and editor. "I would also predict that there would be significant protection with BA.2 if you had BA.1. Stealth Omicron Symptoms. FWIW, its a controversial nickname that not everyone is into. Those include: Anecdotal reports have suggested that dizziness could be a possible symptom, but they are so far unfounded. Dr. This time Every May is National Womens Health Month and for many its a time to resolve to make positive changes Children ages 5-11 are eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccine and a booster dose. These days, we still just recommend people get the vaccine if you haven't because there is protection against the current circulating virus, said Dr. Crum. Emerging research has been showing that Omicron is more likely to affect the upper respiratory tract instead of the lungs, unlike some prior versions of the virus, according to WHO. The two most reported symptom of patients infected by the Stealth Omicron variant is -dizziness and fatigue. 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 contracting this particular strain have remained the same. Our members are the frontline of patient care, expanding access to care for underserved patients and developing key prevention strategies. While some are referring to this as medium COVID, there isnt a scientific name for it just yet. RELATED: This One Symptom Could Be Your First Sign of Omicron, Doctors Warn. "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 new version of the omicron variant is starting to spread around the world. A lot of those populations, especially the very immunosuppressed, will not have great immune responses to the vaccine or to having COVID infection in the past, said Dr. Crum. Apply for a leadership position by submitting the required documentation by the deadline. The concern is that even though our COVID-19 rates are super low right nowat least where I workcould this variant or the variant after this one take off and cause increasing numbers of cases, hospitalizations and deaths again? said Dr. Crum. In this installment, AMA member Nancy Crum, MD, an infectious disease specialist at Avita Health System in Galion, Ohio, discusses what patients need to know about the BA.2 Omicron subvariant. Learn more! 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.". "Patients can also have gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea, and loss of taste or loss of smell, although I've seen that a lot less with the newer variants," she said, noting that symptoms for BA.2 may also include muscle or body aches, headache, nausea or vomiting, and congestion. For some people, coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms that clear up in a couple weeks. Dr. Rohatsch served on the Yale School of Medicine faculty teaching at the medical school and is currently on faculty at the Haslam School of Business at the University of Tennessee teaching in the Executive MBA Program. It is not intended as, and Solv Health, Inc. does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Physician organizations applaud introduction of Medicare payment legislation and more in the latest Advocacy Update spotlight. "By far, most of what we are seeing is BA.2," Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady said Thursday. 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. The views expressed by authors and contributors of such content are not endorsed or approved by Solv Health and are intended for informational purposes only. Itll be highlight transmissible to their family and friends and we should keep our guard up., We need to pay careful attention to see if rates will start to go up, and if so, we may need to go back to some of the mandates, Dr. Crum said. In many countries, it caused some of the steepest and . Its more contagious, but not more severe. ChandanaBalasubramanian is anexperienced healthcare executive who writes on the intersection of healthcare and technology. Looks like you have exceeded the limit to bookmark the image. . Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This new iteration of the fast-spreading variant has been gaining a foothold in several counties since Jan. 24, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported. } What are the symptoms of Stealth Omicron? Even though dizziness and fatigue are common everyday symptoms, one must keep an eye out for the persistence of the same. 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). 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. "I would also predict that there would be significant protection with BA.2 if you had BA.1. BA.2 has several key mutations, with the most important of those occurring in the spike protein that studs the outside of the virus. The National Health Commission in China reported 1,337 locally transmitted cases in the latest 24-hour period, including 895 in the industrial province of Jilin. Illinois has also seen a consistent rise. It may be coronavirus BA.2 and you really need to stay in and quarantine for public health reasons.. Omicron BA.2 stealth variant: Do you need to worry about the dominant strain sweeping across the U.S? BA.2, though, is increasing in many countries, the WHO says online. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it is the dominant strain in India and has been found in over 30 countries, including the United States. With the BA.2 omicron subvariant now the dominant strain across Chicago and the U.S., what symptoms should you be watching for? Learn more. WHO, XBB.1.16 Initial Risk Assessment (April 17, 2023), XBB.1.5: A new Covid variant spreads across the US. As the new variant is a sub-lineage of Omicron, it can therefore be expected that . Read more. It's no secret that health experts have detected that Omicron-fueled infections may have shorter incubation times compared to earlier strains but it's also too soon to tell if "stealth" Omicron has an even more abridged incubation period. daily newsletter. There will always be evolution of this virus towards heightened transmissibility, he adds. It may help to remember that XBB.1.16 is a part of the Omicron family, similar to previous versions. Mild or severe fatigue. 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. "The stealth Omicron subvariant is taking its toll on the world right now, with European nations especially showing major spikes in the numbers of daily infection cases there," Kwon said. But other common COVID-19 symptoms, like cough, fever . "There's four unique mutations in the spike protein that are distinct in BA.2, and different from BA.1. Talk to a licensed provider if you need to receive treatment for COVID. XBB 1.16 is the latest version of the Omicron variant. 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. The stealth variant has about 20 mutations that differ from the original Omicron, according to Francois Balloux, a professor of computational system biology and director of the UCL Genetics Institute in London. Known officially as BA.2, the subtype has small variations. 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 Here's what you can expect if you experience a breakthrough infection. "Not a surprise it is more contagious than B.1.1, but nothing leading to a major surge.". A research year during medical school affords students more time to follow their scholarly pursuits. "When we are sick and our body is taking care of the infection, we can get things like fever," Lee said. As of Monday, the city was averaging 336 new COVID cases per day, up from 257 one week prior. It's not to say that researchers won't notice a new trend or common thread between "stealth" Omicron infections that differ from Omicron infections now, Delta-linked infections or those earliest cases of COVID-19 in 2020.