Stealth Omicron Variant Is Harder To Detect, Could Be More Contagious For some, the virus can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death. As per researchers, the Stealth variant has about 20 mutations that differ from the original Omicron. If there's a question, take a test This subvariant has a high number of mutations compared to Omicron. The AMA promotes the art and science of medicine and the betterment of public health. It is not intended as, and Solv Health, Inc. does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Shutterstock. (BA.3, which is pretty rare, seems to be a mix of BA.1 and BA.2 that infected the same person at the same time, scrambling their viral genes in the process.). What doctors wish patients knew about the BA.2 Omicron subvariant 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. 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. Dr. Rohatsch completed his military service in the US Air Force and earned his MD from Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University. 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. White House chief medical advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci said BA.2 is about 50% to 60% more transmissible than omicron, but it does not appear to be more severe. According to the CDC, those symptoms include: However, a CDC report released in mid-December found that Omicron in general seems to cause these symptoms: Research into BA.2 and its infectiousness is still ongoing, but BA.2 is likely more transmissible than BA.1 based on it supplanting BA.1 in certain geographic areas, Dr. Adalja says. 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. Dr. Katherine Poehling, an infectious disease specialist and member of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices,told NBC Newsin January that a cough, congestion, runny nose and fatigue appear to be prominent symptoms with the omicron variant. Is omicron subvariant BA.2 to blame for rising Covid cases? - CNBC "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. Two 'Stealth Omicron' symptoms that may confirm you have Covid before That is why its important to have people protected not just for the short-term illness, but from the issues that people can have for months and maybe even years after having COVID-19.. Transitioningfrom medical student to resident can be a challenge. 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. Those symptoms are . The FDA is warning of potential contamination. By comparison, it's responsible 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. Back to School 2022: Tips to protect your kids from Omicron BA.5. Review CPT codes for COVID-19 vaccines and immunizations. Called BA.2 by scientists, it has earned itself a more ominous (and more catchy) nickname: stealth omicron. As far as new symptoms go, you don't have to worry much about stealth omicron. Health systems science is key to creating a new generation of physicians better equipped to deliver great team care. Mild fever, sore throat, malaise and body ache,. 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. 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. Notably the new sub-variant of the Omicron is diverse from the parent variant. We adhere to structured guidelines for sourcing information and linking to other resources, including Is Nausea a Sign of a COVID-19 Infection? BA.2 Symptoms, Protection and More: What We Know as Omicron Subvariant Sick with a new Omicron variant? Be prepared for this symptom, new 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 head, muscular fatigue, and an elevated heart rate. However, WHO says that the new subvariant has an additional mutation in its spike protein that increases its ability to transmit infections. Death continues to be stable. Dr. Adalja agrees. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. Runny nose and sneezing haven't been the most common symptoms with previous variants, but "the most reported symptoms of . "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. Officials and members gather to elect officers and address policy at the 2023 AMA Annual Meeting being held in Chicago, June 9-14, 2023. Looking for cold-like symptoms can help keep you and others protected this holiday season. The content is reviewed by Solv Health only to confirm educational value and reader interest. The Omicron strain has mutated slightly into a new iteration, becoming the leading source of infection in some parts of the world. This fits with early data from the U.K. showing that fever and cough are not as prevalent with omicron cases there and that the five top symptoms are runny nose, headache, fatigue, sneezing and. 6 Symptoms of Stealth Omicron You Should Never Ignore - Dailynationtoday Thats because the BA.2 subvariant of Omicron is more transmissible.. Always contact your healthcare provider directly with any questions you may have regarding your health or specific medical advice. "If you have fever, in particular, and if you're sweating a lot, you're losing a lot of fluid.". All rights reserved. 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. Some of the other symptoms experienced are very similar to the other coronaviruses such as febrile illness and respiratory symptoms.. "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. Your session has expired, please login again. So far, symptoms appear to be consistent with the omicron variant. The CDC lists the following COVID symptoms: Symptoms of COVID are similar to other infections, like the flu. You are just one step away from creating your watchlist! What Is BA.2, the So-Called Stealth Omicron Variant? Even though dizziness and fatigue are common everyday symptoms, one must keep an eye out for the persistence of the same. Still, omicron presented a shift in common symptoms for many. But still notable and important to point out". Extreme Fatigue: 5 Reasons Why Your Body is Tired All The Time ChandanaBalasubramanian is anexperienced healthcare executive who writes on the intersection of healthcare and technology. What Is BA.2, the 'Stealth Omicron' Variant - Stealth Omicron Symptoms I don't see this moving the dial significantly in terms of posing a new, huge problem.". For others, it may cause no symptoms at all. 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. The New COVID-19 Pills: How do they work and where can you get them? Learn more about improving surgical outcomes for senior patients. Studies have clearly shown the benefit of vaccination despite prior COVID infection.. 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. Infections in general can cause dizziness if people become dehydrated, she said. Still, NBC News reported symptoms associated with BA.2 seem to largely mirror a small number of symptoms commonly reported in omicron infections. The top 5 symptoms in both periods were: runny nose. Stealth Omicron or BA.2 affects the gut rather than the nose, leading to many problems related to the digestive system. Copyright 1995 - 2023 American Medical Association. 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. We are seeing some just some bubbling up here and there and that's important to keep an eye on, but overall stable. 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 daily newsletter, This One Symptom Could Be Your First Sign of Omicron, Doctors Warn. Physician organizations applaud introduction of Medicare payment legislation and more in the latest Advocacy Update spotlight. Apply for a leadership position by submitting the required documentation by the deadline. Read on to know more. COVID Etiquette Tips: How to Plan Stress-free Springtime Gatherings. I don't see this moving the dial significantly in terms of posing a new, huge problem.". "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. Data suggests the vaccines are protective against BA.1 and BA.2. 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. In many countries, it caused some of the steepest and . 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. 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. In honor of Older Americans Month (May 1-31, 2023), the AMA celebrates senior physician members (ages 65 years and above). I would also predict that there would be significant protection with BA.2 if you had BA.1. 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. 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. Its more contagious, but not more severe. Even though BA.2 is labelled a subvariant of Omicron, its genetic make-up is quite different from the latter. The only way to protect ourselves is by getting vaccinated and following all the Covid norms with due diligence. As far as the contagiousness of the subvariant is concerned it can spread as easily as its parent variant. AMA Recovery Plan for America's Physicians, Featured updates: COVID-19 resource center, Subscribe to the AMAs Advocacy Update newsletter, AMA Morning Rounds: Your daily dose of health care news. Think you may have monkeypox? Public health officials and scientists are closely monitoring BA.2, which has been described as a "stealth" variantbecause it has genetic mutations that could make it harder to distinguish from. Dr. RELATED: Despite BA.2 being labeled a subvariant of Omicron, there are still significant differences in the genetic makeup of the variants. Known officially as BA.2, the subtype has small variations. Currently, health experts have confirmed that Omicron infections specifically have led to a new common trend of upper respiratory symptoms issues like sore throats and nausea over symptoms like shortness of breath or a loss of taste and smell. It is not intended as, and Solv Health, Inc. does not provide, medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. 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. .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. The Delta Variant killed the most number of people during the second wave. Make his special day extra specialhe deserves it. Emerging SARS-CoV-2 Variants and Subvariants: Challenges and Korea expected to ease social distancing rules soon Currently, no new symptoms have been identified. Talk to a licensed provider if you need to receive treatment for COVID. What is stealth Omicron? Symptoms and how it's different from other Omicron stealth variant: What is it? What is the mysterious BA.2 None of us know. While . He claims a director asked him to undress. Issue briefs summarize key health policy issues by providing concise and digestible content for both relevant stakeholders and those who may know little about the topic. Get the latest news in medicine and public health delivered to your inbox MondayFriday. But experts say Omicron is unlikely to present it this way and have highlighted some symptoms that you should never ignore. 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. Even though WHO agrees that the knowledge about B.A2 is still developing, but this lineage is more diverse. As BA.2 subvariant of Omicron rises, lab studies point to signs - CNN Positive for COVID? The Omicron Variant of COVID-19 - WebMD } ); "While we're waiting for data to come in, I would expect that somebody who has just had, if you knew that it was Omicron, you would probably be unlikely to get Omicron again for the next few months based on what we've seen previously. 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. Knowing the signs of the stealth variant can help to detect the condition faster and take the right steps to avoid complications. It seems that these mutations will propel the transmissibility to about a 30% to 50% higher degree of contagiousness than the BA.1 variant," said Dr. Gregory Huhn, an infectious disease physician and the COVID-19 vaccine coordinator for Cook County Health. 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 head, muscular fatigue, and an elevated heart rate. Always talk to your doctor for professional medical advice. Take a COVID test if you begin to experience COVID-like symptoms. According to the CDC, COVID cases had fallen 20 percent in the last two weeks, despite Omicron's dominance. 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. RELATED: This One Symptom Could Be Your First Sign of Omicron, Doctors Warn. Some of these fall in line with tell-tale Omicron symptoms. 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. BA.2, though, is increasing in many countries, the WHO says online. By now, theres a good chance you may have heard about one of the latest new phenomenons known as stealth omicron. And unfortunately, this isnt just a case of another variant that tends to leave you without any symptoms, as its moniker may imply. Read below for the BA.2 variant's symptoms. 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. SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant - Wikipedia What is Stealth Omicron? Symptoms of the Covid variant responsible for A Sore Throat Could Be Your First Sign of Omicron Best Life Most read in Health News GUTTED Starbucks customers share 'nasty stomach issues' after trying new menu item SIZE MATTERS Scrotum 'webbing' op that boosts penis size and sex life surges in popularity WINE DOWN "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.". These 4 New COVID Symptoms Could Mean You Have Omicron, Doctors Warn, For more up-to-date information, sign up for our daily newsletter, This One Symptom Could Be Your First Sign of Omicron, Doctors Warn. This site uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. var xhr = new XMLHttpRequest(); Experts say BA.2 has extensive mutations and . The culprit is a "subvariant" of the omicron variant, which means it's closely related to omicron but has some different mutations. Since Arcturus is new to US soil and is only 9% of the total cases, the CDC has yet to release a list of symptoms. Additionally, the FDA recently approved a second booster shot for people who are above 65 or have compromised immunity.. The city has seen its case metrics climbing in recent weeks. Learn more! 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. 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. And Omicron's BA.2 subvariant might not be much different. The good news, however, is that Omicron cases have waned after its predicted January peak and will hopefully continue to trend downward. "We're also seeing presence at high levels in certain locations including several countries in Asia.". What is the "stealth" omicron Covid subvariant? BA.2, explained - Vox 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. Oops! Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. While we aim to keep all of our stories up to date, please visit online resources provided by the CDC, WHO, and your local public health department to stay informed on the latest news. "So this is the same virus, so SARS Coronavirus 2, so we're seeing the same symptoms," he said. Council on Long Range Planning & Development, What doctors wish patients knew about long COVID, What doctors wish patients knew about COVID-19 vaccine boosters, COVID-19, strep, STDs and Marburg cases on the rise with Andrea Garcia, JD, MPH, COVID-19, strep, STDs and Marburg cases on the rise with Andrea Garcia, JD, MPH [Podcast], XBB.1.5, new COVID-19 and flu at-home test, plus CDC shigellosis warning with Andrea Garcia, JD, MPH, PAs pushing to expand their scope of practice across the country, 10 keys M4s should follow to succeed during residency training, Training tomorrows doctors to put patients first. Informally, some researchers are calling the new variant "stealth Omicron" because it lacks the deletion that allows PCR tests to spot it. 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