How Well Do Rapid COVID Tests Detect Omicron and Its Subvariants? Though symptoms of Omicron aren't drastically different from those associated with the Delta variant, they are manifesting differently, Pia MacDonald, PhD, MPH, an infectious disease epidemiologist at RTI International, told Health. Naz S, Hanif M, Haider MA, et al. UC Davis Health stated that they all cause symptoms such as runny nose, cough, sore throat, fever, headaches, muscle pain, and fatigue. So, even though the symptoms may be described as or seen as mild, there are still issues that can happen. Early studies suggested Omicron appears to be milder than previous strains, although some experts have attributed this to the fact that many more people were vaccinated, and some had immunity from infection. In October, they accounted for more than 16% of cases in the U.S. Tracking Omicron and itsvariants can easily become confusingeven overwhelming, Not only are the symptoms from a BA.4 and BA.5 infection similar to other Omicron variants, but they also seem to have a similar severity, Dr. Passaretti and Dr. Rutherford said. How Are the BA.4 and BA.5 Variants Different? How COVID-19 spreads. The information in this article is current as of the date listed, which means newer information may be available when you read this. In a time spectrum of three to six days, everything is possible with the In fact, according to an August 2022 study published in JAMA Network Open, over 56% of people who were likely infected with Omicron didn't know they even had the virus. These two new subtypes made up the majority of COVID cases in 2022, according to the CDC data tracker page. Roughly 3% of the country is considered immunocompromised, which includes people with health conditions like certain kinds of cancer, diabetes and HIV. "But we are certainly seeing an increase in cases in the community, and that's spilling over to more patients admitted with COVID.". If you think you have COVID-19, get tested to seek appropriate care and treatment. New COVID Variants May Fuel a Winter SurgeWhat to Know About BQ.1, XBB, and Others, Omicron Infection Timeline: When Symptoms Start and How Long They Last, BA.2.75 Is the Newest Omicron SubvariantHere's What We Know So Far. Like the other Omicron strains that have been dominant in the U.S. since December 2021, experts say BA.4 and BA.5 mainly cause cold-like symptoms and respiratory or breathing issues. The information in this story is what was known or available as of publication, but guidance can change as scientists discover more about the virus. Coelho DH, Reiter ER, French E, Costanzo RM. Additionally, theres also the risk of long COVID. Infected people may then go to work or other gatherings and spread the virus. Plus, the overwhelming anxiety that having COVID-19 brings. "The average peak is going to be on day two from when it was detected via a test," said MacDonald. While people may choose to mask at any time, it's still recommended that people in high-transmission areas remain vigilant and mask indoors in public. CDC COVID-19 Response Team. There have been reports that BA.5 might be causing slightly different symptoms from earlier Omicron types. A spokesperson for the ZOE COVID study in the U.K. that tracks COVID symptoms over time, told Newsweek: "As the three variants BA.2, BA.4 and BA.5 are co-existing at the moment, we can't currently provide insights on a specific variant and its symptoms until one variant becomes dominant.". The study finds, "A person infected with COVID-19 is most likely to experience symptoms in the order of fever, cough, nausea/vomiting, then diarrhea. Read our, What You Need to Know About the New COVID Variant BQ.1.1, Moderna and Pfizer Share a Peek At Human Data For Bivalent Boosters. Delta was never going to be the last variantand Omicron is not going to be the last one. But Who Will Take It? What Are Symptoms of BA.4 and BA.5 Variants? The current COVID-19 variants are more transmissible than ever, leading to a higher rate of infection throughout the country and increased risk associated with most activities. [Originally published:Dec. 2, 2021. If you test negative but continue to feel ill, you can test again 48 hours after the first negative test, for a total of at least two tests, says the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Here's what we know about what a BA.4 or BA.5 infection can look like and whether symptoms are any more severe than other COVID-19 strains. When Can More People Get a Second COVID Booster? "[This strain is] causing bad cold to flu-like illness," Pritish Tosh, MD, an infectious diseases doctor and Because of the sheer number of vaccinated people in the country, you may notice an uptick in vaccinated individuals in hospitals. If You've Never Had COVID Are You More Susceptible to Variants? At Atrium Health hospitals, where Dr. Passarettti works, hospitalizations due to the BA.5 variant spiked in mid-2022. Symptoms include: Cough Runny nose Sore throat Fatigue Headache Muscle pain Sneezing Pain While some symptoms do overlap, it is slightly different to the Alpha variant. Breakthrough infections, too, are expected to occur with Omicron and its subvariants. Diarrhea, a common symptom for earlier variants, may turn up. Research published in April 2022 in The Lancet also found that sore throat and hoarse voice were consistently more prevalent with Omicron infections than with Delta. Early reports from South Africa indicated that most cases were mildand that symptoms for this variant seemed to be different. , IP, Yahoo. A 2020 case study once discussed a 21-year-old COVID-19 patient who developed symptoms that appeared to be exclusive to meningitis, such as neck stiffness. They do spread more quickly, however. Shutterstock. Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. Symptoms include: Cough Runny nose Sore throat Fatigue Headache Muscle pain Sneezing Pain So how do you know if you have a severe infection? Immunocompromised people may have a harder time clearing the infection and can therefore stay contagious longer. Julia Ries is a writer focusing on all things health and wellness. Study: Boosters Protect Against Severe COVID For About 4 Months, What to Know About Omicron BA.5 Reinfections, What You Need to Know About the Updated COVID-19 Boosters, Your COVID-19 Symptoms May Vary Based on How Many Shots Youve Had, Sore Throat Is the Most Common COVID Symptom Right Now. Fact-checked on July 14, 2022, by Marley Hall, a writer and fact checker specializing in medical and health information. It is very hard to distinguish one variant from the other based on symptoms, according to Irfan Hafiz, MD, chief medical officer at Northwestern Medicine McHenry Hospital. Republicans Want Trump Agenda Without Trump | Opinion, Republicans Can Win Without Trump as Their Mascot | Opinion. There have been recent reports of people who experience symptoms like those of viral meningitis, an inflammation of the brain and spinal cord membranes. Every new COVID-19 variant raises questions about how the symptoms from a new type might affect our health, and the BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron subvariants are no different. In general, you may see symptoms start two to 14 days after infection. Read our. Here, experts share the COVID-19 symptoms that are most common right now and other differences theyve seen with these current variants. Experts are still learning about COVID-19. The first was how transmissible the new variant is compared to Deltathe previous predominant variantother previous variants like Alpha and Beta, and the original virus. The incubation period varies among individuals, and it varies depending on the variant. Fact checked on June 3, 2022 by Vivianna Shields, a journalist and fact-checker with experience in health and wellness publishing. He said that symptoms such as runny nose, cough, headaches, and muscle aches remain the most common across different variants. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.529 (Omicron) Variant United States, December 18, 2021. By Carla Delgado "[There are] adults who have had fevers of almost 40 degrees Centigrade [104 degrees Fahrenheit]," Dr. Rutherford told Health. They also can cause some different symptoms compared to earlier strains of the virus. 2022;5(8):e2227241. doi:10.1177/01945998221097656. but Yale Medicine follows these variants, and the CDC providesweekly updatesto track them. As COVID Omicron BA.5 continues to spread in the U.S., some may be wondering if the variant might cause distinct symptoms that set it apart from other Omicron variants. Front Public Health. Nature. BA.5 alone was responsible for 81% of cases in October 2022. BA.2.75 Is the Newest Omicron SubvariantHere's What We Know So Far, COVID-19 Boosters Are Being Updated To Target Omicron SubvariantsHere's Why, Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 Symptoms: What To Know, Omicron BA.5 May Increase the Risk of Outdoor TransmissionHere's How to Stay Safe, What to Know About COVID Reinfections as BA.5 Cases Continue to Rise, COVID Is 'Still Here': Experts Say Masking This Fall and Winter Is a Good Idea, New Covid Boosters Were Released Before Human TestingBut Experts Say They're Still Safe. It's more stealthy than previous variants and flies under the radar, so the immune system is unable to remember it.". Thomas Murray MD, PhD, a Yale Medicine pediatric infectious diseases specialist, and Nathan Grubaugh, PhD, an epidemiologist at the Yale School of Public Health, commented on what we know. Omicron BA.5 May Increase the Risk of Outdoor TransmissionHere's How to Stay Safe. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. COVID data tracker. This way, they can potentially get a prescription for Paxlovid, an antiviral medication used to help prevent severe illness from the disease. cookie. Were hearing that a lot less than we used to.. The symptoms that are found in more than 50%, respectively, are: fatigue. The BA.5 subvariant of Omicron is currently dominating COVID-19 case counts in the U.S. And while some reports say gastrointestinal symptoms are also more common with Omicron than previous variants, evidence from the ZOE COVID Study suggests GI issues were just as prevalent with Alpha and Delta. FDA Grants Emergency Use Authorization for Novavax's COVID-19 Vaccine. According to Souleles, people are testing positive after exposure at a faster rate than earlier in the pandemic. Trends in number of COVID-19 cases and deaths in the US reported to the CDC, by state/territory. 5. The cough . Other symptoms may show up with the newer strains, George Rutherford, MD, a professor of epidemiology at the University of California, San Francisco, told Health. But if your oxygen levels drop and you start to feel dizzy or short of breath, you may need to get treatment for COVID-19 at a hospital. While some people may report cold-like symptoms from a BA.5 infection, those who are immunocompromised could face a much more grim reality. doi:10.1126/science.abq1841. The CDC says the presence of severity of symptoms can be affected by vaccination, history of prior infection, and age and other health conditions. "Symptoms may be more painful," says Dr. Chin-Hong. Keep in mind that its not guaranteed that unvaccinated people will become more ill, there is just a higher chance that they will face more severe outcomes. Pekosz said that it is best to have two negative results from rapid tests on consecutive days to make sure you are not infected with the virus. The most commonly-reported symptoms with the original Omicron variant were cough, fatigue, headache, congestion, and runny nose. If you remained asymptomatic for your illness, you can end your isolation after five days, but continue to mask around others for another five days. It's still being looked into, but CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said at a press briefing on July 12 that "we know that vaccine effectiveness against severe disease and death remains high for other Omicron sub-lineages and likely also for BA.4 and 5.". Why Are There So Many Omicron SubvariantsAnd What Can They Tell Us About the Future of the Pandemic? At-Home COVID-19 antigen tests-Take steps to reduce your risk of false negative: FDA safety communication. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized bivalent vaccine booster shots from Pfizer-BioNTech for children and adults 5 years of age and older, and from Moderna for those 6 and older. CDC recommends the first COVID-19 booster. The Lancet. "Rapid diagnosis, early diagnosis, and treatment is the way to go," Dr. Rutherford said. When Can More People Get a Second COVID Booster? Ending isolation without a viral test may not be an option for you. Severe Sore Throat. Read our. The research team analyzed blood samples from 731 UK healthcare workers who received three doses of mRNA vaccine and had different SARS-CoV-2 infection histories, to investigate immunity against Omicron. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2021;70:17821784. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky called them "more transmissible and more immune evading" than other Omicron variants in a 2022 White House press briefing. Omicron infection enhances Delta antibody immunity in vaccinated persons. Omicron vs. Delta: How the 2 COVID-19 Variants Compare, According to Experts and Research, When To Get Boosted After Having a COVID-19 Breakthrough Infection, 'Deltacron' COVID-19 Variant Confirmed By WHOHere's What We Know So Far, CDC recommends the first COVID-19 booster, Trends in number of COVID-19 cases and deaths in the US reported to the CDC, by state/territory. While symptoms of COVID-19 are similar to those of other respiratory illnesses such as the common cold or the flu, there are a few important Fever. How soon symptoms occur is directly tied to when your immune system recognizes and responds to the virus, said Dr. Adalja. CDC Study Says Omicron Variant's Incubation Period Is About 3 DaysHere's What That Means, What Are the Symptoms of BA.2? In a White House press briefing, Dr. Walensky noted that people still need to be vigilant in staying up to date on COVID-19 vaccines and boosters. U.S. Food & Drug Administration. Health's content is for informational and educational purposes only. Please check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the most updated recommendations. FDA Recommends Booster Shots for Omicron Subvariants, Booster Protection Against Omicron Wanes After 3 Months, Study Finds, What We Know So Far About the New COVID-19 Booster Side Effects. Immune boosting by B.1.1.529(Omicron) depends on previous SARS-CoV-2 exposure. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sore throats are very commonly reported, he said. "If you got infected with any of the versions of Omicron there is probably good cross-protection of BA.1 and BA.2and maybe less so with BA.4 and BA.5but for the immediate period of a couple of months to several months after infection, it's unlikely that you'll get [re]infected," said Dr. Adalja said. Other sources say the symptoms of BA.5 are similar to those of previous Omicron sub-variants. While there is more to learn about BA.5, early data from South Africa did not show a sharp rise in deaths from the subvariant. The current strains are unique for reasons beyond their transmissibility, too. Think persistent headache, frequent cough and restless nights as a result. 8 Research published in April 2022 in The Lancet also High-risk people are more likely to face severe outcomes from COVID-19, including hospitalization and death. She has gained experience in a variety of settings, ranging from corporate wellness and preventive medicine, to mental health, chronic disease, and end-of-life care. "COVID tends to present similarly, and [it] may vary from person to person, but the most common stuff we're seeing are fevers, congestion, [and] sore throat," Katie Passaretti, MD, vice president and enterprise chief epidemiologist with Atrium Health, told Health. According to Dr. Adalja, Omicron's short incubation period may be influenced by built-up immunity from the past two years. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2021;70. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm7050e1. "[It's] harder to detect because people are like, 'I just have allergies. COVID-19 testing: What you need to know. Meanwhile, loss of taste and smell, which was a common symptom with previous variants, is less likely to occur with Omicron. From the beginning, two important questions about Omicron were top of mind for scientists, says Dr. Murray. The fact is: In a direct comparison, the incubation time for Omikron BA.1 and Omikron BA.2 can sometimes be different. In early October, the FDAwarnedthat Evusheld, a pre-exposure therapy for immunocompromised people, may not protect against certain SARS-CoV-2 variants. Since then, multiple Omicron subvariants have emergeda strain called BA.5 remains the predominant one in the U.S., making up 62% of infections in October 2022, while its close cousin, BA.4.6 made up 11% of cases. The original Omicron caused a record number of cases, but while it has also caused its share of hospitalizations and deaths, factors such as lengths of hospital stays, ICU admittance, and death were lower than during previous pandemic peaks, according to a CDC report in January 2022. Monitoring variant proportions. Are Symptoms of BA.4 and BA.5 More Severe? COVID-19 symptoms are similar to some common illnesses, such as colds and flu, or allergies. 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