The Delta variant of COVID-19 remains the dominant strain in the United States, but the BA.4.6 subvariant is gaining ground, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)..
For the week ending August 4, the Delta variant accounted for 93.4% of all sequenced COVID-19 cases in the U.S., down from 94.8% the previous week. The BA.4.6 subvariant accounted for 4.7% of cases, up from 3.9% the previous week..
The BA.4.6 subvariant is a more transmissible version of the Omicron variant that was first identified in South Africa in January. It has since spread to several other countries, including the United States..
The CDC is urging people to get vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19, as the BA.4.6 subvariant is more likely to cause breakthrough infections in people who are not fully vaccinated..
**Symptoms of the BA.4.6 subvariant**.
The symptoms of the BA.4.6 subvariant are similar to the symptoms of other variants of COVID-19, including:.
* Fever or chills.
* Cough.
* Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.
* Fatigue.
* Muscle or body aches.
* Headache.
* New loss of taste or smell.
* Sore throat.
* Congestion or runny nose.
* Nausea or vomiting.
* Diarrhea.
**How to protect yourself from the BA.4.6 subvariant**.
The best way to protect yourself from the BA.4.6 subvariant is to get vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19. The CDC recommends that everyone 6 months and older get vaccinated. People who are immunocompromised should get a third dose of the vaccine..
In addition to getting vaccinated, you can also protect yourself from the BA.4.6 subvariant by:.
* Wearing a mask in indoor public places.
* Maintaining social distance.
* Washing your hands frequently.
* Staying home if you are sick.
**Treatment for the BA.4.6 subvariant**.
There is no specific treatment for the BA.4.6 subvariant. Treatment will vary depending on the severity of your symptoms. If you have mild symptoms, you may be able to recover at home with rest and over-the-counter medications. If you have more severe symptoms, you may need to be hospitalized for treatment..
**Outlook for the BA.4.6 subvariant**.
The CDC is closely monitoring the BA.4.6 subvariant and its potential impact on the pandemic. It is too early to say for sure what the future holds for this subvariant, but the CDC is urging people to take precautions to protect themselves from infection..
If you have any questions about the BA.4.6 subvariant, please contact your doctor or local health department..
