Coronavirus fourth wave: Maharashtra on alert as Omicron BA.2 cases surges globally; know the symptoms of new variant

After a few months' respites, the COVID-19 cases across the world have again started soaring. The new sub-variant of the Omicron virus has led to a spike in the cases in parts of Europe and Asia, forcing experts to mull over the possibility of the fourth wave in India. In wake of the current situation, the Maharashtra government has already issued an alert in the state urging people to follow COVID-19 protocol when stepping out. The state was the worst hit during the third wave. Some countries recorded the highest ever new COVID-19 cases since the beginning of the pandemic two years ago on Saturday, raising speculation of a possible spike in the cases globally in the coming weeks. Here are some common symptoms of this variant of coronavirus you must know about.

The BA.2 variant, which is believed to soon take over the world, is a sub-variant of Omicron, which originated in South Africa and led to the third wave in India. Dubbed as "stealth", the sub-variant of Omicron is hard to detect and highly transmissible like the parent variant. Yet the two variants are different from each other in several ways. Knowing the symptoms of the BA.2 variant can help to take precautions at the right time and reduce the risk of infection to others.

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Just the other variants of the coronavirus, the BA.2 variant also multiples in the respiratory system. The major difference is that its initial symptoms are not related to the lungs at all. As per studies carried out to get a clear understanding of this new variant, its two typical symptoms are mainly dizziness and fatigue. They can appear within two to three days after getting infected with the virus and may linger for longer.

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As per a UK-based tabloid, Stealth Omicron affects the gut instead of the nose which leads to several digestive system related issues. This may lead to a false-negative test as the virus cannot be traced in the nose or mouth. The variant can lead to digestive problems like nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting, abdominal pain, heartburn and bloating. Other less common signs of the Omicron sub-variant includes:

Fever

Coughing

Sore throat

Sore head

Muscular fatigue

Elevated heart rate

Symptoms like loss of smell or taste and shortness of breath are less likely to be witnessed in the case of the new sub-variant.

Analysing the current situation, there are fair chances that the Omicron sub-variant can lead to a possible COVID-19 wave across the globe. The BA.2 variant of the Omicron is highly transmissible and contagious, so the possibility cannot be denied. A few weeks back, an IIT Kanpur team predicted that India is likely to witness the next wave in June. They suggest that it will continue for 4 months and will reach its peak in August. However, some experts believe that the chances are extremely low.