A World Health Organization scientist claimed that a new COVID-19 subvariant that is spreading quickly across the United States is the most contagious one ever.
Concerns about how effectively the UK is prepared for a new COVID-19 wave have apparently been raised in light of the threat from the extremely contagious XBB.1.5.
COVID-19 Surge
In the US, XBB.1.5 infections increased from 4% to 41% of COVID-19 infections in December, but it doesn’t seem to be any more deadly than Omicron.
In US hotspots where it is spreading quickly, it is believed to be the root of about 70% of new infections.
“We are concerned about its growth advantage, particularly in some areas in Europe and the US,” Ms. Van Kerkhove said. especially in the Northeast region of the country, where XBB.1.5 has quickly displaced previous circulating varieties.
The growth of XBB.1.5, according to Dr. Ashish Jha, the coordinator for the White House’s COVID-19 response, was shocking.
Read more: Experts say COVID-19 vaccine has relation to rising flu cases
What is XBB.1.5?
It is yet another descendant of the Omicron Covid form, which is now widespread throughout the world and which itself followed the previous Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta variations.
Since it first appeared in late 2021, Omicron has exceeded all prior iterations of the coronavirus and has given rise to numerous sub-variants that are even more contagious than the original.
Though it is currently too soon to confirm it, it is believed that the symptoms of XBB.1.5 are comparable to those of earlier Omicron strains. Most people have symptoms similar to a cold.
The same mutation that allowed XBB to overcome the body’s defensive systems also made it less able to infect human cells.
On Wednesday, experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) determined that XBB.1.5 has the best chance of growth compared to all other sub-variants so far identified.
However, they claimed that there was no evidence that it was more dangerous or serious than earlier Omicron forms. In order to learn more about its effects on patients, the WHO stated that it would closely monitor test results, hospital data, and infection rates.
Read more: Experimental brain surgery changes Polish girl’s life who suffers from genetic disease
