Omicron subvariant, BA.2, is also known as "stealth Omicron"
While on one hand due to declining cases of COVID-19 people are heaving a sigh of relief, on the other hand the emergence of the subvariant of coronavirus's Omicron variant has posed new challenges. Omicron is the latest variant of the coronavirus. Till date five variants of the virus including the Omicron have been listed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as the variants of concern due to their high transmissibility and aggressiveness.
Recently a subvariant of the Omicron has been found and according to the latest update given by the WHO it is likely to spread globally.
The Omicron subvariant, BA.2, also known as the stealth Omicron, is said to be more contagious than its ancestor Omicron. According to Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO's Covid-19 technical lead, the BA.2 subvariant, which is more contagious than the currently dominant BA.1 version, will likely become more common, CNBC reported.
The WHO is monitoring BA.2 to see if the subvariant causes an increase of new infections in countries that saw a rapid increase and then a sharp decline in omicron cases, Van Kerkhove said.
Two symptoms linked to the stealth Omicron
As per a report, dizziness or vertigo is one of the early signs of the infection caused by the Omicron subvariant. There can be other reasons why you have dizziness but if the condition persists one should contact a medical expert.
Experts have also said that fatigue comes to people quicker in Omicron subvariant infection than ancestral variants. Dr Angelique Coetzee, the South African doctor who had first found the Omicron variant had also linked fatigue with this variant.
Other symptoms of Omicron subvariant
It is believed that the Omicron subvariant will cause mild symptoms as its parent variant.
The common symptoms associated with the infection caused by the stealth Omicron are Runny nose, Scratchy throat, Headache, Fatigue, Sneezing, Body pain, Night sweats, Loss of appetite, and Vomiting.
People can also experience fainting, congestion, brain fog, skin rashes, conjunctivitis.
Omicron subvariant: Should we be worried?
While research is still ongoing, there's no indication of a difference in the severity of infections caused by either subvariant, said Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO's COVID-19 technical lead. The WHO is monitoring BA.2 to see if the subvariant causes an increase of new infections in countries that saw a rapid increase and then a sharp decline in omicron cases, Van Kerkhove said.
BA.2 is more transmissible than BA.1, the WHO expert has said.
Researchers in Denmark have found that BA.2 is about 1.5 times more transmissible than BA.1 and it is more adept at infecting people who are vaccinated and even boosted. However, people who are fully vaccinated are less likely to spread it than the unvaccinated.
Omicron subvariant also has a chance of reinfecting people.