Omicron BA.2 variant: The new Covid strain ‘may be even more infectious’ – symptoms
Omicron: GP explains ‘overwhelming’ science behind vaccines
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The new sub-strain of Omicron has also appeared in the UK. The BA.2 strain seems to have mutations that could alter its behaviour. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) shared this stealth variant may spread even faster than the original Omicron.
The Omicron BA.2 variant has emerged across parts of Europe and Asia.
This comes after its predecessor accounted for the majority of the coronavirus infections globally.
Although Omicron cases have already peaked in some countries, experts are now closely watching the new sub-strain that is starting to spread steadily.
Certain countries are now seeing an increase in BA.2 cases, as reported by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Apart from Omicron BA.1 and BA.2, the health organisation also names two other strains known as BA.1.1.529 and BA.3.
All of these are closely related; however, each has a mutation that could change its behaviour.
The UKHSA explained that early evidence suggests that the new BA.2 variant seems to be 30 percent more transmissible than the original Omicron, which was already considered as the most transmissible variant.
The health agency listed the new strain as a “variant under investigation”. This brings it to one level below a “variant of concern”.
What are the symptoms of Omicron BA.2?
Currently, the health experts haven’t established a list of symptoms linked directly to the new infection.
The NHS remains to report cough, fever and loss or change to taste and smell as the main symptoms of Covid.
However, the emergence of the original Omicron shed light on this list, redefining what was known as common signs.
Here’s the reminder of Omicron symptoms that were based on reports from patients and South Africa.
These symptoms include:
- Scratchy throat
- Mild muscle aches
- Extreme tiredness
- Dry cough
- Night sweats
- Runny nose
- Headache
- Myalgia (muscle pain).
If you experience any coronavirus symptoms, you have to self-isolate and take a test as soon as possible, the NHS advises.
The self-isolation period is currently set at five days as long as you have two negative lateral flow test results that are 24 hours apart.
Where is Omicron BA.2 most prevalent?
So far, BA.2 has been identified in more than 40 countries, such as India, parts of Europe, South Africa, Australia and the US.
One particular country that is seeing a boom in cases of the stealth variant is Denmark.
BA.2 represents roughly 82 percent of cases in Denmark, according to Trevor Bedford, a computational virologist at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Centre in the US.
On Friday, Mr Bedford also shared that it accounts for nine percent of cases in the UK.
Even though the stealth variant might be more transmissible, the current evidence doesn’t suggest it’s more severe.
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