But for some people, they will get infected with this new subvariant. Find tips to protect patient health records and other data from cyberattacks. We are seeing some just some bubbling up here and there and that's important to keep an eye on, but overall stable. 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. iPhone or But I'm less confident in that statement than I would have been for prior variants, given what we've seen.". According to the CDC, COVID cases had fallen 20 percent in the last two weeks, despite Omicron's dominance. 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. And Omicron's BA.2 subvariant might not be much different. 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.". "We're also seeing presence at high levels in certain locations including several countries in Asia.". One of the common symptoms of Stealth Omicron - much like the original variant - is vertigo or dizziness. 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. Data suggests the vaccines are protective against BA.1 and BA.2. 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. 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 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. daily newsletter. Explore how to write a medical CV, negotiate employment contracts and more. Runny nose and sneezing haven't been the most common symptoms with previous variants, but "the most reported symptoms of . 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. 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. Still, omicron presented a shift in common symptoms for many. "When we are sick and our body is taking care of the infection, we can get things like fever," Lee said. 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. As for the stealth Omicron nickname, experts say its not exactly accurate. Informally, some researchers are calling the new variant "stealth Omicron" because it lacks the deletion that allows PCR tests to spot it. Your session has expired, please login again. 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?. For some, the virus can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death. He brings comprehensive healthcare expertise ranging from medical group operations to revenue cycle management and clinical expertise. Omicron BA.2 . .css-lwn4i5{display:block;font-family:Neutra,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-weight:bold;letter-spacing:-0.01rem;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:0;text-align:center;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-lwn4i5:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-lwn4i5{font-size:1.375rem;line-height:1.1;}}@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-lwn4i5{font-size:1.375rem;line-height:1.1;}}@media(min-width: 48rem){.css-lwn4i5{font-size:1.375rem;line-height:1.1;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-lwn4i5{font-size:1.375rem;line-height:1.1;}}8 Surprising Benefits of Cycling, 12 Potential Arcturus COVID Symptoms to Know, The Reason Why You Buy Things When You're Drunk, Heres the Real Reason Why You Get Toe Cramps, How Buccal Fat Removal Surgery Actually Works. He also serves on several boards and chairs The TJ Lobraico Foundation. 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. Its not like this variant has increased ability to evade vaccine-induced immunity, he says. 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. The third wave was driven by the Omicron Variant that was first detected in South Africa. 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 The stealth Omicron variant has already made its way around several countries including Denmark, India, Sweden, and Singapore, according to Verywell Health. 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. 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. RELATED: This One Symptom Could Be Your First Sign of Omicron, Doctors Warn. According to Manish Naik, M.D., internal medicine physician at Austin Regional Clinic in Austin, Texas, this variant, which has been formally recognized by the World Health Organization, has the official name BA.2, whereas standard omicron is referred to as BA.1. BA.2 was initially detected in Canada, Australia, the U.K., and South Africa in December, and a few cases have more recently been discovered in the U.S., he says. In this article. 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. Despite BA.2 being labeled a subvariant of Omicron, there are still significant differences in the genetic makeup of the variants. Infections in general can cause dizziness if people become dehydrated, she said. xhr.setRequestHeader('Content-Type', 'text/plain;charset=UTF-8'); However, one must note, these are only early stage symptoms. A sore throat is just one of many symptoms you might experience with Omicron. What are the symptoms? "So this is the same virus, so SARS Coronavirus 2, so we're seeing the same symptoms," he said. Arcturus or XBB.1.16 is a subvariant of Omicron. You are encouraged to discuss any questions that you may have about your health with your healthcare provider. The deadly novel coronavirus mutated over time and and has created newer variants that fueled every wave of the pandemic. I haven't seen data to suggest that vaccines would not be helpful for the current circulating variants, said Dr. Crum. Log in to our website to save your bookmarks. Otherwise, the variant functions quite similarly to Omicron itself and experts say there isn't cause for overt panic just yet; a report released this week by the United Kingdom's Health Security Agency suggests that current vaccines provide similar protection against the "stealth" variant as it does to original Omicron infections. And the answer's going to be, yes, she said. Some of these fall in line with tell-tale Omicron symptoms. 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. Empirical data has said that this spread faster than the Omicron variant, which in itself had a higher transmissibility than Covid-19. The AMA promotes the art and science of medicine and the betterment of public health. Shutterstock. . Symptoms of infection don't appear to be any different so far from the original omicron strain. "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 symptoms can appear within two-three days after getting infected with the virus and may linger in the body for longer. 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. According to several health experts, BA.2 appears to be more transmissible than omicron. The two most reported symptom of patients infected by the Stealth Omicron variant is -dizziness and fatigue. 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. The two most reported symptom of patients infected by the Stealth Omicron variant is -dizziness and fatigue. She is also an 11-time marathoner, a USATF Level 1-certified running coach, and an avid traveler. The holidays may have ended, but COVID continues to loom large. A new version of the omicron variant is starting to spread around the world. There is no need to panic; public health agencies continue to track the variant closely. Solv can help you schedule your COVID vaccines or visit a licensed provider near you. 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. 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. It may help to remember that XBB.1.16 is a part of the Omicron family, similar to previous versions. As per researchers, the Stealth variant has about 20 mutations that differ from the original Omicron. Back to School 2022: Tips to protect your kids from Omicron BA.5. One major unknown is how the new variant emerged.. Dr. Rohatsch brings his extensive background in multi-site ambulatory medicine operations, on-demand healthcare, and consumerism to Solv, where he helps drive strategic initiatives in a cross functional executive role. 11 Potential Stealth Omicron Symptoms Experts Say May Impact Breakthrough Cases. The only way to protect ourselves is by getting vaccinated and following all the Covid norms with due diligence. 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. Experts say you shouldnt stress about this variant. The content provided here and elsewhere on the Solv Health site or mobile app is provided for general informational purposes only. 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 According to Dr. But now, there is another concern on the horizon: the Omicron subvariant, BA.2. Turn to the AMA for timely guidance on making the most of medical residency. Data is extremely limited thus far on how this variant works to infect both fully vaccinated and unvaccinated people, but CNN reports that leading virologists have indicated that early data suggests "stealth" Omicron isn't more infectious or deadlier than its earlier counterpart; just possibly more confusing for scientists to classify in a laboratory setting. 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. This subvariant seems closely related to XBB.1.15, the Omicron subvariant that dominated late last year and early 2023. 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. Hospitalizations and deaths have declined over the last week, though officials previously noted those metrics often lag behind a rise in cases. Early symptoms include dizziness, fatigue One of the early-reported symptoms in patients affected by this variant are dizziness and extreme fatigue. COVID vaccines for small children: Do kids under 5 need them? 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 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. .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. Yes, but: The "stealth" variant of the omicron variant could be harder to track, per The Guardian. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Limited time: You may be eligible for half-price dues. Find possible causes of symptoms and get recommendations on what to do next. As the Omicron variant continues to .css-1me6ynq{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:#125C68;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:#125C68;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-1me6ynq:hover{color:#595959;text-decoration-color:#595959;}fuel widespread SARS-CoV-2 sickness here in the United States, a sibling-like version of the highly infectious variant is now causing concern among healthcare providers as it becomes more prevalent across the globe. 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. Dr. Crum is also an alternate delegate in the AMA House of Delegates for the Infectious Diseases Society of America. BA.2, also known as "stealth omicron," is considered a subvariant of omicron, but, according to Chicago's top doctor, the suvariant is now making up at least two-thirds of the city's COVID cases. What we do know is that it is possible for someone to get COVID-19 twice, or for someone who is up to date on COVID-19 vaccinations to experience a breakthrough case. Medical experts say the symptoms for BA.2 are similar to those seen in many COVID infections. Even though BA.2 is labelled a subvariant of Omicron, its genetic make-up is quite different from the latter. But what is BA.2, what are its symptoms, and how transmissible is it? if( 'moc.enilnoefiltseb' !== location.hostname.split('').reverse().join('') ) { 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. So far, symptoms appear to be consistent with the omicron variant. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. Researchers have been working to pinpoint common signs of the Omicron variant over the last few months. Some of these fall in line with tell-tale Omicron 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. They also have BA.1 but it looks like BA.2 is replacing BA.1," Luban told the news outlet. 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.. "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. Download the Mint app and read premium stories. As Dr. Van Kerkhove, WHO epidemiologist, noted, XBB.1.16 replaced other existing variants in India. In a lot of ways, it's a bad cold, a lot of respiratory symptoms, stuffy nose, coughing, body aches and fatigue," said Dr.. However, fortunately this variant is not more virulent in terms of causing more severe disease, she said. 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. RELATED: For more up-to-date information, sign up for our daily newsletter. 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. 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. Always talk to your doctor for professional medical advice. So, we really haven't seen this variant take off. Dr. Adalja agrees. BA.2, though, is increasing in many countries, the WHO says online. 7 tips for taking care of yourself at home with Omicron, Omicron 101: Everything you need to know to stay safe, 7 Marathons, 7 Continents, 7 Days: Thriving with Type 1 Diabetes, How to Talk to Young Kids About the COVID Vaccine: Tips from a Pediatrician, COVID Vaccine Booster Shots: What you need to know, 16 COVID-Takes on Holiday Traditions, and other creative ideas, New COVID variant XBB.1.16 Arcturus in the US: What you need to know, Stay updated on COVID vaccines, including the bivalent booster. RELATED: These 4 New COVID Symptoms Could Mean You Have Omicron, Doctors Warn. But a sub-variant of Omicron, called BA.2 or stealth Omicron has also been making waves more recently. 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. One of the common symptoms of the 'stealth omicron' - much like the original variant - is vertigo or dizziness. Were seeing very low rates of positivity for coronavirus right now and were actually seeing more influenza, said Dr. Crum. 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. Researchers have been working to pinpoint common signs of the Omicron variant over the last few months. 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? .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. There are two FAQs, one designed to answerpatientsquestions (PDF), and another to addressphysiciansCOVID-19 vaccine questions (PDF). Because BA.1 has spread the most rapidly around the world, its gotten the most attention, Dr. Russo saysbut BA.2 is starting to gain steam, too. Is it the right decision for you? 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. One of . 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. "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. 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.. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. A research year during medical school affords students more time to follow their scholarly pursuits. Scratchy throat Lower back pain Runny nose/congestion Headache Fatigue Sneezing Night sweats Body aches Topics Coronavirus YOU MIGHT LIKE Based on the CDCs genomic surveillance, the BA.2 or stealth Omicron subvariant is responsible for most new SARS-CoV-2 infections in the U.S. BA.2 is a subvariant of the original SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant(B.1.1.529), along with BA.1.1 and BA.3. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. It may be coronavirus BA.2 and you really need to stay in and quarantine for public health reasons.. ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb. Here's How Worried You Should Be About 'Stealth' Omicron, The Difference Between a Heart Attack and a Stroke. 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. Drive in style with preferred savings when you buy, lease or rent a car. "Hospitalization in most places continues to be stable. 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. Learn more! Another problem with detecting Stealth Omicron is that the symptoms are almost identical to those of the original Omicron variant. 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. Heres what to do. "Not a surprise it is more contagious than B.1.1, but nothing leading to a major surge.". 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. 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. 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. Officials and members gather to elect officers and address policy at the 2023 AMA Annual Meeting being held in Chicago, June 9-14, 2023. With expert resources and tireless advocacy, the AMA is your powerful ally against COVID-19. 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 FDA is warning of potential contamination. The results of the tests can be inaccurate because the virus cannot be detected in the nose or mouth. sore throat. Those symptoms are . Its not just simply a short-term illness with a sore throat or a cough, rather up to 30% of people are having long COVIDdefined as four weeks or more of symptomswith all kinds of issues from shortness of breath to fatigue to hearing problems to dizziness to ocular symptoms., What this new variant is going to look like as far as its propensity to cause long COVID, we dont know, but I would expect for us to see more people with long term issues, she said. There are patients that dont meet the definition of long COVID, but theyre certainly having symptoms longer than just a few days or a week, said Dr. Crum. 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. The New COVID-19 Pills: How do they work and where can you get them? That progress, however, plateaued right as cases of BA.2 increased in circulation. 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. People should be wary of two new COVID-19 symptoms observed in patients down with the new omicron subvariant, BA.2. Mild fever, sore throat, malaise and body ache,. 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.