The ommicron variant has led to the most inconspicuous sub-variant: the BA.5. Currently, this relatively new mutation is behind a majority of the nearly 125,000 cases reported on August 16.
But due to the popularity of home testing and COVID fatigue, cases are largely underreported. In fact, a recent study conducted by researchers at LA-based Cedars-Sinai Medical Center found that most people infected with COVID-19 were not even aware they had the virus.
These undiagnosed infections could be the reason why the variant is spreading rapidly, researchers note in the study published in the journal JAMA Network Open.
Of the nearly 2,500 patient blood samples collected before the ommicron wave, researchers identified 210 people who likely had COVID-19 infection.
“More than one in two people infected with omicron didn’t know they had it,” Sandy Y. Joung, the study’s lead author and a researcher at Cedars-Sinai, said in a news release. “Awareness will be the key to enabling us to overcome this pandemic.”
Symptoms of Omicron are less severe than symptoms of previous variants and typically include fatigue, cough, headache, sore throat, and a runny nose.
“Our research results add to the evidence that undiagnosed infections can increase transmission of the virus,” Joung said. “Low levels of infection awareness likely contributed to Omicron’s rapid spread.”
Through health surveys and interviews, the researchers found:
- An estimated 44% of participants with new infections knew they had COVID-19.
- But a majority (56%) of the participants were unaware of their recent infection.
- And 10% thought they had a cold or some other kind of infection.
What are the updated quarantine guidelines?
Now vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals no longer need to go into quarantine after exposure, but are advised to mask for 10 days or until they test negative, as I mentioned earlier.
“We are stronger as a nation today, with more tools – such as vaccination, boosters and treatments – to protect ourselves and our communities from serious illness from COVID-19,” said Dr. Greta Massetti, the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report author, in a press release issued by the CDC.
Can you protect yourself from ommicron?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have said there is no evidence that the two new sub-variants BA.4 and BA.5 are more serious than others, but it is clear that immunity gained from previous infection or vaccination is not as effective against them. as I reported earlier.
dr. Sandra Adams, a biology professor and virologist at Montclair State University, told NJ Advance Media that the newer mutations allow new strains to evade antibodies. “However, vaccines and previous infections still provide protection against serious diseases,” she said.
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