According to Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner, Dr. Allison Arwady, the BA.4 and BA.5 COVID-19 variants are not presenting drastically different symptoms. However, there are more new symptoms to be aware of. These variants are highly contagious and are associated with cold and flu-like symptoms. These symptoms include night sweats, fever, and sore throat. Also, some patients have reported experiencing losing their sense of taste or smell.
Many doctors and researchers have stated that the new BA.4 and BA.5 variants spread very rapidly. This means that impacts mucosal immunity, which is the largest component of the immune system. These variants cause infection in the nasal passage as opposed to the lungs. Therefore, commonly reported symptoms include runny nose, fatigue, persistent cough, and headaches.
BA.4 and BA.5 New COVID-19 Variants
Since the beginning of July, the BA.5 variant has accounted for over 50% of all COVID-19 cases in the United States, with BA.4 representing nearly 20% of cases. Researchers claim that these variants are noticeably less sensitive to the antibiotic components of current COVID-19 vaccines than other omicron variants. This means that these sub-variants may be more resistant to the vaccines.
Currently, BA.4 and BA.5 are the most prevalent types of COVID-19 in the United States. While there is no evidence that these strains are more severe than other forms of COVID-19, their increased transmission is concerning. Doctors are saying that the variants’ contagious nature could lead to weakened immunity and other severe medical conditions in older age groups.
Immunity and the New COVID-19 Variants
Depending on what strain of COVID-19 one has had, they may be more likely to have greater immunity against the new variants. Director of the University College London Genetics Institute Francois Balloux stated that the antibodies present in the BA.2, BA.4, and BA.5 strains are very similar. This means that people who already had BA.2 infections could be more protected against the BA.4 and BA.5 variants.
However, it is important to note that the increase in COVID-19 variants is an expected outcome of disease progression. Epidemiologists expect many more variants of COVID-19 to form as long as cases of the virus remain present.
How to Protect Yourself
Doctors highly recommend getting fully vaccinated with booster shots as the best line of defense against the new variants. The COVID-19 virus is less likely to spread and mutate the more people are fully vaccinated. Cases and hospitalizations related to COVID-19 have been rising, so it is important to act quickly in getting vaccinated to protect yourself and others.
Get Certified
American Medical Compliance (AMC) is a leader in the industry for compliance, Billing, and HR solutions. Learn how to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and its variants in the workplace by taking AMC’s Infection Control Training. Visit www.americanmedicalcompliance.com for more information.
References
NBC5 Chicago (2022, July 12). How Are COVID Symptoms Shifting With New Variants? Here’s What Chicago’s Top Doc Says. Retrieved from: https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/how-are-covid-symptoms-shifting-with-new-variants-heres-what-chicagos-top-doc-says/2879647/
