The majority of people infected by the Omicron variant of Covid-19 were unaware they even had the virus, reveals new research. A huge 56 per cent of sufferers didn't know they had it and this lack of awareness led to a surge in Omicron cases, say scientists.
The symptoms often aren’t severe. Someone infected usually suffers from fatigue, a cough, a headache, a sore throat or a runny nose. Researchers looked into the effects of Covid and the impact of vaccines.
The investigation started over two years ago. The research team tested the blood of healthcare workers and patients for antibodies that fight against the Omicron variant and surveyed whether those with antibodies were aware they had had the virus. Study corresponding author Dr Susan Cheng, of Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in the US, said: “More than one in every two people who were infected with Omicron didn’t know they had it.”
