"I would also predict that there would be significant protection with BA.2 if you had BA.1. "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.". I dont see this moving the dial significantly in terms of posing a new, huge problem., He adds, theres not the same concern level that we had with Omicron with BA.1.. What will happen with this in the next few weeks? 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. Mild fever, sore throat, malaise and body ache,. So, we really haven't seen this variant take off. But a sub-variant of Omicron, called BA.2 or stealth Omicron has also been making waves more recently. One of the biggest concerns among health experts when it comes to BA.2 is the wrench it could throw into a swift exit from the omicron wave. The German-based GISAID Initiative indicates that BA.2 cases in the U.S. have remained at 100 cases in 20 different states as of this week, based on its public data. 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. As per one of the leading professors in the UK, cases of Stealth Omicron show symptoms of the gut. The two most reported symptom of patients infected by the Stealth Omicron variant is -dizziness and fatigue. Heres what to do. Arcturus or XBB.1.16 is a subvariant of Omicron. Between Delta, Omicron, and the original strains, its all made most of our heads spin. So even if you have stealth omicron variant symptoms, you might not necessarily test positive for the stealth omicron variant. Illinois has also seen a consistent rise. For others, it may cause no symptoms at all. The BA.2 Omicron subvariant is now the dominant version of COVID-19 in the U.S. 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. 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. COVID vaccines for small children: Do kids under 5 need them? 11 Potential Stealth Omicron Symptoms Experts Say May Impact Breakthrough Cases. She has a masters degree from American University, lives by the beach, and hopes to own a teacup pig and taco truck one day. 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. This difference also may be why BA.2 escaped attention earlier. As for the stealth Omicron nickname, experts say its not exactly accurate. The AMA has developed frequently-asked-questions documents on COVID-19 vaccination covering safety, allocation and distribution, administration and more. 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. These can include: Fever or chills Cough Shortness of breath Fatigue Muscle or body aches Headache Loss of taste or smell Sore throat Congestion or runny nose Nausea or vomiting Diarrhea Copyright 1995 - 2023 American Medical Association. "I have not seen anything to indicate that the symptoms with BA.2 are different from BA.1," Dr. Edwards says. The stealth variant has about 20 mutations that differ from the original Omicron, according toFrancois Balloux, a professor of computational system biology and director of the UCL Genetics Institute in London. The NHS explained: "These may come and go throughout the day. I would also predict that there would be significant protection with BA.2 if you had BA.1. The subvariant, detected in at least 57 . According to a January 24, 2022, article in The Washington Post, some scientists gave BA.2 the nickname "stealth Omicron," with the claim that it has certain genetic traits that make it more. (January 05, 2023), WHO press conference on COVID-19 and other global health issues (March 29, 2023), Early Estimates of Bivalent mRNA Booster Dose Vaccine Effectiveness in Preventing Symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 Infection Attributable to Omicron BA.5 and XBB/XBB.1.5Related Sublineages Among Immunocompetent Adults Increasing Community Access to Testing Program, United States, December 2022January 2023 (January 25, 2023), Conjunctivitis a Symptom of COVID Variant Arcturus in India: What We Know (April 19, 2023), CDC Symptoms of COVID-19 (October 26, 2022), New COVID-19 variant 'Arcturus' is on the rise in US (April 24, 2023), FDA News Release: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: FDA Authorizes Changes to Simplify Use of Bivalent mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines (April 18, 2023), CDC: Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19 Vaccination (April 19, 2023). The New COVID-19 Pills: How do they work and where can you get them? Shutterstock. Here's what you can expect if you experience a breakthrough infection. One analysis of BA.2 conducted by the British government found that the variant is spreading faster than BA.1 because its more transmissible. Monkeypox and kids: As cases rise, should parents worry? As Dr. Van Kerkhove, WHO epidemiologist, noted, XBB.1.16 replaced other existing variants in India. Stealth Omicron represented only 9% of infections, and BA.4 represented just over 11% of infections. RELATED: These 4 New COVID Symptoms Could Mean You Have Omicron, Doctors Warn. "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. COVID Etiquette Tips: How to Plan Stress-free Springtime Gatherings. 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. Learn more. Data suggests the vaccines are protective against BA.1 and BA.2. The three main symptoms of Covid-19, according to the NHS, are a new persistent cough, high temperature and loss of taste and smell. 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. Experts Explain, Your Favorite Fried Food Could Be Causing Anxiety. Hospitalizations and deaths have declined over the last week, though officials previously noted those metrics often lag behind a rise in cases. The AMA promotes the art and science of medicine and the betterment of public health. The good news, however, is that Omicron cases have waned after its predicted January peak and will hopefully continue to trend downward. If you feel sick or have COVID-like symptoms, Solv can help you find a COVID test and an urgent care center near you. 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. The major variants are named according to the Greek alphabetAlpha, Beta, Delta and now Omicron.. 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. Additionally, the FDA recently approved a second booster shot for people who are above 65 or have compromised immunity.. 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. All you need to know, When to get checked: A guide to mens preventive health (including timelines and screenings), Getting back to health: your checklist for 2022, Protecting Your Kids with the COVID-19 Vaccine, Parent Tips for a no burn-out, no bummer summer with kids. A government notice said that police permission would be required for people to leave the area or travel from one city to another. WHO, XBB.1.16 Initial Risk Assessment (April 17, 2023), XBB.1.5: A new Covid variant spreads across the US. Scratchy throat Lower back pain Runny nose/congestion Headache Fatigue Sneezing Night sweats Body aches Topics Coronavirus YOU MIGHT LIKE Experts say BA.2 has extensive mutations and . However, one must note, these are only early stage symptoms. This makes it quite different from the Omicron variant in a number of ways and is also a reason for concern. Those mutations are shared with the original omicron, but BA.2 also has additional genetic changes not seen in the initial version. The Arcturus variant is spreading faster than previous ones and may evade our immunity even if you have been sick with the XBB 1.15. Rob Rohatsch currently serves as Chief Medical Officer for Solv Health. Even though COVID-19 is a respiratory disease, the symptoms of one of its variants called Stealth Omicron or BA.2 may appear in the gut. } 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.. Health Effects of Daylight Savings and Falling Back, April Showers and May Flowers: What You Need to Know About Allergy Season. 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. 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. Android, The best in medicine, delivered to your mailbox. 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. 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. Review CPT codes for COVID-19 vaccines and immunizations. The AMA Update covers a range of health care topics affecting the lives of physicians and patients. Even though WHO agrees that the knowledge about B.A2 is still developing, but this lineage is more diverse. I haven't seen data to suggest that vaccines would not be helpful for the current circulating variants, said Dr. Crum. However, fortunately this variant is not more virulent in terms of causing more severe disease, she said. "It's like when Omicron first hit. Also, you may have to take time off work and risk infecting your loved ones. 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. According to a new report from officers at the World Health Organization, this new version of the Omicron variant officially known as BA.2, a further iteration of the same strain, called BA.1 differs from earlier mutations due to its cellular spike protein structure. RELATED: This One Symptom Could Be Your First Sign of Omicron, Doctors Warn. This makes tracking its spread more time-consuming. What Is BA.2, the So-Called Stealth Omicron Variant? However, WHO says that the new subvariant has an additional mutation in its spike protein that increases its ability to transmit infections. 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. But there is still reason to be cautious. Some of these fall in line with tell-tale Omicron symptoms. And Omicron's BA.2 subvariant might not be much different. When the Omicron subvariant BA.2 was first reported, the media dubbed it a "stealth" variant because it was hard to detect and track. She is the President of Global Insight Advisory Network, and has a Masters degree in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA. Always contact your healthcare provider directly with any questions you may have regarding your health or specific medical advice. Viruses, malware and hackers pose a threat to patients and physician practices. The Stealth Omicron variant has fueled the recent outbreak in China, which according to reports is the biggest one in two years for the east Asian country. xhr.send(payload); But I'm less confident in that statement than I would have been for prior variants, given what we've seen.". I don't see this moving the dial significantly in terms of posing a new, huge problem.". One of the things that's amazing about this virus is the different problems people have come in with, Dr. Crum said. 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. 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). Prior to joining GH in 2019, Zee fostered a nutrition background as an editor at Cooking Light and is continually developing his grasp of holistic health through collaboration with leading academic experts and clinical care providers. Review the list of candidates to serve on the AMA Board of Trustees and councils. Dr. Russo doesnt anticipate that the recent Omicron wave of COVID-19 cases will be heightened much by BA.2. But, as we know from the past, variants have the potential to mutate and cause widespread illness. Some people started calling it stealth Omicron as a result, even though PCR tests would still come up positive for COVID-19 and show all three target genes like they did before Omicron surfaced. 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. } Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) spokesperson Kristen Nordlung told The Washington Post last week that currently, there are insufficient data to determine whether the BA.2 lineage is more transmissible or has a fitness advantage over the BA.1 lineage.. 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. There is no cause for concern with BA.2 as everything you do to handle BA.1 is applicable, Dr. Adalja says. Read on to know more. MSOP Outreach Leaders: Find all of the information you need for the year, including the leader guide, action plan checklist and more. 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 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. According to the CDC, COVID cases had fallen 20 percent in the last two weeks, despite Omicron's dominance. 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. 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. This has led to more questions. Stealth Omicron Symptoms: Sore Throat, Elevated Heart Rate and Other Symptoms to Watch Out For! 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 Omicron variant is still the most concerning version of COVID taking over the U.S. right now. Investigations into the characteristics of BA.2, including immune escape properties and virulence, should be prioritized independently (and comparatively) to BA.1, the agency added. 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.". Download AMA Connect app for Read on to find out what you should be watching out for when it comes to this new version of the virus. It's very common to see young, previously healthy people that now can't go back to work or now are having all these issues, she added. These symptoms are likely to appear within two to three days after being infected with the virus. According to several health experts, BA.2 appears to be more transmissible than omicron. Due to its novelty, some Americans may be wondering if this "stealth" version of Omicron may lead to COVID-19 infections that feel worse understandably so, given how fast Omicron has spread here in the U.S. Read on to learn more about everything you should know about this new COVID-19 variant, including if this mutation has caused a shift in known symptoms associated with SARS-CoV-2 at large. 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. Stop calling it stealth Omicron, says infectious disease expert Amesh A. Adalja, M.D., a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. 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. See how the CCB recommends changes to the AMA Constitution and Bylaws and assists in reviewing the rules, regulations and procedures of AMA sections. The city has seen its case metrics climbing in recent weeks. XBB 1.16 is the latest version of the Omicron variant. 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. 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. 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. Symptoms of infection don't appear to be any different so far from the original omicron strain. "There's four unique mutations in the spike protein that are distinct in BA.2, and different from BA.1. .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. 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. In many countries, it caused some of the steepest and . The data may be limited here, as Dr. Edwards confirms, but the reality is that experts are largely unsure if certain variants can cause reinfection more than once. 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 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. The top 5 symptoms in both periods were: runny nose. Its more contagious, but not more severe. 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. Despite BA.2 being labeled a subvariant of Omicron, there are still significant differences in the genetic makeup of the variants. Covid is not going away and the best way to protect yourselves and your family is to get vaccinated and boosted, he says. Read on to find out what you should be watching out for when it comes to this new version of the virus. These 7 Symptoms Could Be Signs of the New "Stealth" Omicron Variant, These 4 New COVID Symptoms Could Mean You Have Omicron, Doctors Warn, For more up-to-date information, sign up for our 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. Infectious disease experts break it down. It may be coronavirus BA.2 and you really need to stay in and quarantine for public health reasons.. sound information and advice to make the smartest, healthiest choices. iPhone or Think you may have monkeypox? 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. RELATED: For more up-to-date information, sign up for our daily newsletter. 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. The holidays may have ended, but COVID continues to loom large. While it appears that BA.2 does not cause more severe disease, COVID could linger longer in our community due to this new Omicron strain.. 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. It is not intended as, and Solv Health, Inc. does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. headache. Limited time: You may be eligible for half-price dues. Always talk to your doctor for professional medical advice. Therefore, various cases of Stealth Omicron lead to stomach issues instead of. Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing. Still, omicron presented a shift in common symptoms for many. 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. 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 only way to protect ourselves is by getting vaccinated and following all the Covid norms with due diligence. 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. 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. BA.1, aka the Omicron that people have largely been tracking, is missing one of three target genes that are used in a standard PCR test, Dr. Russo explains. Solv has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. They reported that the top five symptoms related to the variant were: Runny nose. The stealth Omicron variant has already made its way around several countries including Denmark, India, Sweden, and Singapore, according to Verywell Health. Download the Mint app and read premium stories. It'll just take a moment. 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. 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. 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. The U.K., for example, saw a steep decline in COVID-19 cases in mid-January. However, the bivalent vaccine released last year offers protection against severe disease, hospitalization, and death from COVID variants, including previous Omicron subvariants, including XBB.1.15 (CDC study).
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