What is the infection with Omikron BA.5? Five Important Facts About the “Worst Mutation” [EXPLAINED]

The Omikron BA.5 worries the world more and more. This is the most easily spreading SARS-CoV-2 mutation among all the existing ones. The next wave of the pandemic shows that BA.5 is able to “escape” immunity. “The worst version of the coronavirus we have seen” – admitted recently prof. Eric Topol. This raises a number of questions: what are the symptoms of COVID-19 now, how long do they last, whether immunization or disease gives protection, and finally how to protect yourself against BA.5. We have collected the most important information for you.

1. Our observations so far show that BA.5 is more likely to result in a less severe course of COVID-19. However, there are still groups of people at risk of becoming severely ill
2. Many of the symptoms of BA.5 are similar to those seen in previous variants. The UK Health Service (NHS) has published a list of the 20 most common
3. Vanessa Lamers “resistance to coronaviruses tends to diminish more than other viruses”
4. One of the best ways to protect yourself against BA.5 is to be “up to date” with COVID-19 vaccinations, especially booster doses. What else should we do?
5. More information can be found on the TvoiLokony home page

Is BA.5 more severe than the other variants?

First, optimistic news. The observations so far show that compared to other variants of the coronavirus, Omikron BA.5 more often results in a less severe course of COVID-19. Most breakthrough infections (after vaccination or earlier illness) do not lead to severe disease.

Although the course of the disease appears to be milder, it does not absolutely mean that the threat is gone. In a recent conversation with Medonet, the drug reminded us of this. Bartosz Fiałek. – Among us, there are still people particularly at risk of severe COVID-19. These include the elderly, patients with multiple comorbidities, immunocompromised patients, and unvaccinated individuals, including those who have not taken a booster dose.

“All the data we can see now confirm that four doses of the vaccine in particular offer significant protection against serious illness, hospitalizations and deaths,” said the epidemiologist and director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, Michael Osterholm, in The Guardian. «Statistically, if you are vaccinated, you will have a lower risk of becoming seriously ill. This is really the key news »- emphasized the scientist.

Symptoms of the BA.5 variant in adults and children

Clinicians say many of the symptoms of BA.5 are similar to those seen in previous variants. The UK Health Service (NHS) has published a list of the 20 most common symptoms of Omicron infection today. The first three places were taken by: sore throat (58% of respondents experienced it), headache (49%), stuffy nose (40%).

The next places were, among others,: cough without phlegm (40%), runny nose (40%), cough with phlegm (37%), hoarse voice (35%), sneezing (32%), fatigue (27%), muscle pain (25 percent).

Dr. Claire Bocchini notes that compared to adults, children tend to have more gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea. The doctor also notes that there are more cases of upper respiratory tract infections in children. They can make breathing difficult and cause a persistent ‘barking’ cough. “It is certainly an infection that parents should pay attention to,” emphasizes Dr. Bocchini.

How long does BA.5 infection last?

Some people do not experience any symptoms related to a BA infection. 5. And those who do experience symptoms can expect them to last from a few days to several weeks. Dr. Claire Bocchini, an infectious disease specialist at Texas Children’s Hospital, notes that the normal course of the disease is “one to two weeks of acute symptoms.” Hospitalized people may struggle with them for much longer.

The latest research shows that with each subsequent COVID-19 infection (even asymptomatic), the risk of complications increases (including, but not limited to, diabetes and cognitive impairment). Each reinfection also carries the risk of a long covid.

Can vaccinated and convalescent people feel safe?

The above-mentioned epidemiologist Michael Osterholm and Vanessa Lamers, who runs the vaccination program at the American Public Health Foundation, provided answers to this question in The Guardian. «It depends on how you define the word safe. If you have recently been vaccinated or recovered, you may not be protected against the infection, but it is less likely to be severe, »we read.

How often does reinfection occur? “There is no systematic data collection that really shows this,” notes Osterholm. “We need to count all the cases to have this kind of information.” However, the expert notes that, based on existing genomic surveillance, it can be seen that some of the new cases “clearly” appear among those who have had BA.1 infection.

Vanessa Lamers points out that “resistance to coronaviruses tends to diminish more than with other viruses”. The expert advises to think of resistance as water in a cup. “Every little part that you can fill this glass will give you more protection.” Those who recovered from COVID-19 but were not vaccinated have some water in their cup, those who have vaccinated and booster doses have much more. But the water evaporates over time and needs to be replenished regularly.

What is the best protection against a BA.5 mutation?

“The same types of protection that worked for the Omicron BA.1 will work for the BA.5,” says Vanessa Lamers. It is all about keeping up to date with COVID-19 vaccinations, especially booster doses.

According to the expert, it is also about wearing a high-quality, well-fitting protective mask (especially indoors) – this is especially important for people at high risk of severe COVID-19 – as well as extensive testing, ventilation and air filtration.

“It still has to be a multi-layered strategy,” emphasizes Lamers, adding: “It’s not magic, it’s still a virus.”

We encourage you to listen to the latest episode of the RESET podcast. This time Joanna Kozłowska, author of the book High Sensitivity. A Guide for Those Who Feel Too Much »says that high sensitivity is not a disease or dysfunction – it’s just a set of characteristics that affect the way you perceive and perceive the world. What are the genetics of WWO? What are the perks of being highly sensitive? How to act with your high sensitivity? You will find out by listening to the latest episode of our podcast.