SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant

Main article: Variants of SARS-CoV-2

SARS-CoV-2 Variant
Omicron
Scientifically accurate atomic model of the external structure of SARS-CoV-2. Each "ball" is an atom.
Scientifically accurate atomic model of the external structure of SARS-CoV-2. Each "ball" is an atom.
General details
WHO DesignationOmicron
LineageB.1.1.529
First detectedSouth Africa
Date reported24 November 2021; 2 years ago (2021-11-24)
StatusVariant of concern
Symptoms
Asymptomatic infection,[1] body ache,[1] cough,[1] fainting,[2] fatigue,[3] fever, headache,[4] loss of smell or taste,[5][6] — less common nasal congestion or running nose[4] night sweats,[7] — unique Omicron symptom, upper respiratory tract infection[8] skin rash,[9] sneezing,[4] sore throat[2]
Major variants

Omicron (B.1.1.529) is a variant of SARS-CoV-2 first reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) by the Network for Genomics Surveillance in South Africa on 24 November 2021.[10][11] It was first detected in Botswana and has spread to become the predominant variant in circulation around the world.[12] Following the original B.1.1.529 variant, several subvariants of Omicron have emerged including: BA.1, BA.2, BA.3, BA.4, and BA.5.[13] Since October 2022, two subvariants of BA.5 called BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 have emerged.

As of September 28, 2024, a new subvariant of Omicron labeled XEC has emerged. The new variant is found in Europe, and in 25 states in the United States of America, including three cases in California.[14]

Three doses of a COVID-19 vaccine provide protection against severe disease and hospitalisation caused by Omicron and its subvariants.[15][16][17][18] For three-dose vaccinated individuals, the BA.4 and BA.5 variants are more infectious than previous subvariants but there is no evidence of greater sickness or severity.[13][19][20]

As of 24 September 2024, the variants of interest as specified by the World Health Organization are BA.2.86 and JN.1, and the variants under monitoring are JN.1.7, KP.2, KP.3, KP.3.1.1, JN.1.18, LB.1, and XEC.[21]
  1. ^ a b c Yadav PD, Gupta N, Potdar V, Mohandas S, Sahay RR, Sarkale P, et al. (January 2022). An in vitro and in vivo approach for the isolation of Omicron variant from human clinical specimens. pp. 2022–01.02.474750. doi:10.1101/2022.01.02.474750. Archived from the original on 16 January 2022. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  2. ^ a b Padin M (17 January 2022). "Feeling light-headed may be an early indication you have Omicron Covid variant". Daily Mirror. Archived from the original on 28 January 2022. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
  3. ^ Poudel S, Ishak A, Perez-Fernandez J, Garcia E, León-Figueroa DA, Romaní L, et al. (December 2021). "Highly mutated SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant sparks significant concern among global experts – What is known so far?". Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease. 45: 102234. doi:10.1016/j.tmaid.2021.102234. PMC 8666662. PMID 34896326.
  4. ^ a b c Adams R (24 December 2021). "Omicron's cold-like symptoms mean UK guidance 'needs urgent update'". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 25 December 2021.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference nbcchicago2723960 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference metro.co.uk15967386 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Scribner H (21 December 2021). "Doctor reveals new nightly omicron variant symptom". Deseret News. Archived from the original on 2 January 2022. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  8. ^ "Does Omicron cause less damage to the lungs?". medicalnewstoday.com. 14 January 2022. Archived from the original on 9 February 2022. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  9. ^ Murrison P (18 January 2022). "Omicron symptoms: Three distinctive rashes to watch for". Express.co.uk. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
  10. ^ Quarleri J, Galvan V, Delpino MV (February 2022). "Omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2: a quest to define the consequences of its high mutational load". GeroScience. 44 (1): 53–56. doi:10.1007/s11357-021-00500-4. PMC 8683309. PMID 34921354.
  11. ^ Gowrisankar A, Priyanka TM, Banerjee S (10 January 2022). "Omicron: a mysterious variant of concern". European Physical Journal Plus. 137 (1): 100. Bibcode:2022EPJP..137..100G. doi:10.1140/epjp/s13360-021-02321-y. PMC 8743750. PMID 35036269.
  12. ^ Vitiello A, Ferrara F, Auti AM, Di Domenico M, Boccellino M (July 2022). "Advances in the Omicron variant development". Journal of Internal Medicine. 292 (1): 81–90. doi:10.1111/joim.13478. PMC 9115048. PMID 35289434.
  13. ^ a b Yao L, Zhu KL, Jiang XL, Wang XJ, Zhan BD, Gao HX, et al. (June 2022). "Omicron subvariants escape antibodies elicited by vaccination and BA.2.2 infection". The Lancet. Infectious Diseases. 22 (8): 1116–1117. doi:10.1016/s1473-3099(22)00410-8. PMC 9212811. PMID 35738299.
  14. ^ "New XEC Covid variant: What are the symptoms and is it spreading in the UK?". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  15. ^ Ahmed SF, Quadeer AA, McKay MR (January 2022). "SARS-CoV-2 T Cell Responses Elicited by COVID-19 Vaccines or Infection Are Expected to Remain Robust against Omicron". Viruses. 14 (1): 79. doi:10.3390/v14010079. PMC 8781795. PMID 35062283.
  16. ^ Al Jurdi A, Gassen RB, Borges TJ, Lape IT, Morena L, Efe O, et al. (June 2022). "Suboptimal antibody response against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant after third dose of mRNA vaccine in kidney transplant recipients". pp. 1282–1286. medRxiv 10.1101/2022.01.03.22268649v1.
  17. ^ Altarawneh HN, Chemaitelly H, Ayoub HH, Tang P, Hasan MR, Yassine HM, et al. (July 2022). "Effects of Previous Infection and Vaccination on Symptomatic Omicron Infections". The New England Journal of Medicine. 387 (1): 21–34. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa2203965. PMC 9258753. PMID 35704396. S2CID 249677809.
  18. ^ Nemet I, Kliker L, Lustig Y, Zuckerman N, Erster O, Cohen C, et al. (February 2022). "Third BNT162b2 Vaccination Neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Infection". The New England Journal of Medicine. 386 (5): 492–494. doi:10.1056/NEJMc2119358. PMC 8823651. PMID 34965337.
  19. ^ Cao Y, Yisimayi A, Jian F, Song W, Xiao T, Wang L, et al. (June 2022). "BA.2.12.1, BA.4 and BA.5 escape antibodies elicited by Omicron infection". Nature. 608 (7923): 593–602. Bibcode:2022Natur.608..593C. doi:10.1038/s41586-022-04980-y. PMC 9385493. PMID 35714668.
  20. ^ Hachmann NP, Miller J, Collier AY, Ventura JD, Yu J, Rowe M, et al. (July 2022). "Neutralization Escape by SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Subvariants BA.2.12.1, BA.4, and BA.5". The New England Journal of Medicine. 387 (1): 86–88. doi:10.1056/NEJMc2206576. PMC 9258748. PMID 35731894. S2CID 249956777.
  21. ^ "WHO Coronavirus Network (CoViNet)". Retrieved 1 September 2024.