6 Symptoms of Stealth Omicron You Should Never Ignore - Dailynationtoday Learn more. Arcturus or XBB.1.16 is a subvariant of Omicron. Here's what you can expect if you experience a breakthrough infection. 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. What are the symptoms of the stealth Omicron Covid variant? The CDC lists the following COVID symptoms: Symptoms of COVID are similar to other infections, like the flu. Our content is fact checked by our senior editorial staff to reflect accuracy and ensure our readers get 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. Our members are the frontline of patient care, expanding access to care for underserved patients and developing key prevention strategies. The question I'm getting now is do we need a second booster? 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. Between Delta, Omicron, and the original strains, its all made most of our heads spin. A new version of the omicron variant is starting to spread around the world. headache. Dr. Russo doesnt anticipate that the recent Omicron wave of COVID-19 cases will be heightened much by BA.2. The 6 stealth Omicron symptoms that you must 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. 'Stealth' omicron variant BA.2: Here's what you need to know This site uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. It is not intended as, and Solv Health, Inc. does not provide, medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. "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. 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. } Looking for cold-like symptoms can help keep you and others protected this holiday season. Arcturus or XBB.1.16 is a subvariant of Omicron. One of the things that's amazing about this virus is the different problems people have come in with, Dr. Crum said. "Last week in Denmark, BA.2 was about 60 percent of the cases. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. The BA.2 virus - a subvariant of the Omicron coronavirus variant - isn't just spreading faster than its distant cousin, it may also cause more severe disease and appears capable of thwarting some. So what this is going to mean for us is really the big question, Dr. Crum said. The holidays may have ended, but COVID continues to loom large. 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. We adhere to structured guidelines for sourcing information and linking to other resources, including The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is also tracking the variant across the United States. Limited time: You may be eligible for half-price dues. Omicron symptoms: Here's what to expect and what we know - NPR 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). Omicron Symptoms: What Are They and How Long Do They Last? - Join ZOE 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. 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.. BA.2 has several key mutations, with the most important of those occurring in the spike protein that studs the outside of the virus. A Sore Throat Could Be Your First Sign of Omicron Best Life I verify that Im in the U.S. and agree to receive communication from the AMA or third parties on behalf of AMA. 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. 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. The stealth Omicron variant has already made its way around several countries including Denmark, India, Sweden, and Singapore, according to Verywell Health. COVID-19 Omicron Subvariant Presents 2 New Symptoms: Report Is Nausea a Sign of a COVID-19 Infection? 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. "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. Extreme Fatigue: 5 Reasons Why Your Body is Tired All The Time Stealth Omicron represented only 9% of infections, and BA.4 represented just over 11% of infections. The AMA promotes the art and science of medicine and the betterment of public health. Visit our online community or participate in medical education webinars. This . 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. "I would also predict that there would be significant protection with BA.2 if you had BA.1. The FDA is warning of potential contamination. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Effective 3/13/23, ARC transitions to optional masking for our staff and physicians, with required masking during specific situations. As we've hit year three of the pandemic, the virus has mutated and changed over time, said Dr. Crum. Covid 4th wave: 10 symptoms to watch out for - DNA India 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. 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. The good news, however, is that Omicron cases have waned after its predicted January peak and will hopefully continue to trend downward. What Are Symptoms of 'Stealth' Omicron or BA.2 as Subvariant Now The three main symptoms of Covid-19, according to the NHS, are a new persistent cough, high temperature and loss of taste and smell. Again, here in Illinois, we are seeing these rising cases and a context of much lower cases than we had seen in the winter. "There's four unique mutations in the spike protein that are distinct in BA.2, and different from BA.1. Whether it is medium COVID or some other term, weve really seen the whole gamut from one day of symptoms from COVID-19 and then everything is well to one year or more of symptoms and things are still really bad, she said. But now, there is another concern on the horizon: the Omicron subvariant, BA.2. Looks like you have exceeded the limit to bookmark the image. 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. The experts said that at the moment, symptoms such as as runny nose, sneezing and a sore throat, are among those being most recorded. By comparison, it's responsible "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. 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. Solv can help you schedule your COVID vaccines or visit a licensed provider near you. scientific studies and medical journals. Dr. Adalja agrees. 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. Scientists are keeping an eye on it, but there's no reason to panic. 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. "It's like when Omicron first hit. 11 Potential Stealth Omicron Symptoms Experts Say May Impact Breakthrough Cases. Fever was much less common. Rising COVID infections associated with the so-called "stealth" omicron variant BA.2 are fueling fresh leeriness about the state of the pandemic in Massachusetts and across the country, just as life as we now know it is beginning to return to normal. Other experts say they don't feel like the emergence of the stealth Omicron variant is any cause for panic. In a lot of ways, it's a bad cold, a lot of respiratory symptoms, stuffy nose, coughing, body aches and fatigue," said Dr. Dennis Cunningham, the system medical director of infection control and. Some of these fall in line with tell-tale Omicron symptoms. However, fortunately this variant is not more virulent in terms of causing more severe disease, she said. . You are now subscribed to our newsletters. 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. Its not like this variant has increased ability to evade vaccine-induced immunity, he says. Infections in general can cause dizziness if people become dehydrated, she said. Apart from two telltale signs, the new sub-variant may also lead to other symptoms like: Cold has also been notably the most reported symptom of the BA.2 variant of Omicron, especially in people who've been vaccinated, according to Zoe Covid study app of UK. Stealth omicron: New 'stealth' omicron variant, BA.2, has arrived in the US, but don't panic, experts say.