The XBB.1.5 variant is spreading quickly in the U.S. and the bivalent booster appears to be ineffective at stopping the spread. Keep in mind the bivalent booster was tested on XA.1 and XA.5 where it was found effective at stopping severe illness and somewhat effective at stopping infection. However XBB.1.5 is significantly different than XA.1 -- to the point where is should be considered its own major strain (in the way that alpha and delta were different) except for the fact there is a defined inheritance path back to the original Omicron for XBB.1.5. Highly immune evasive omicron XBB.1.5 variant is quickly becoming dominant in U.S. as it doubles weekly https://www.cnbc.com/2022/12/30/cov...immune-evasive-and-binds-better-to-cells.html The Covid omicron XBB.1.5 variant has nearly doubled in prevalence over the past week and now represents about 41% of new cases in the U.S., according to CDC data. XBB.1.5 is highly immune evasive and appears to bind better to cells than other members of the XBB omicron subvariant family. Scientists at Columbia University have warned that the rise of subvariants such as the XBB family could “result in a surge of breakthrough infections as well as re-infections.” A new COVID variant is spreading quickly across New England, and the bivalent booster doesn’t seem able to stop it https://www.courant.com/news/connec...0230106-sw7da5wqjfhe7fpbv7a53mpd4e-story.html
There is a growing debate if XBB.1.5 should be considered new strain with its own Greek letter like Alpha and Delta --- or if is merely the latest sub-variant of micron. The WHO has taken the position since it descended from the original Omicron --despite being very different -- it is nothing more than a new sub-variant. The Kraken COVID variant isn’t different enough from other Omicrons to get a Greek letter, WHO official says https://news.yahoo.com/isn-t-impressed-kraken-variant-163310670.html
They are shitjerks. I remember predicting a couple years ago that they would be labeling the next major variant with a new Greek letter. They did not. It was just Omicron variant after variant. They made a fool out of me. :-(
Meet the XBB.1.16 sub-variant... Why The Latest COVID Variant Has The World Health Organization Concerned https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/he...organization-concerned/ar-AA19h15R?li=BBnb7Kz
Doctor reveals new Covid Arcturus variant has rare symptom as first cases found in UK A more infectious Covid variant has been surging in India, while cases have also been confirmed in the UK, and a doctor has revealed an unusual symptom that has been found https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/doctor-reveals-new-covid-arcturus-29705814 A “more infectious” Covid variant has been surging in India with a rare added symptom, according to a doctor. The new variant dubbed Arcturus has already been confirmed in the UK by the UK Health Security Agency although there are under 100 cases. It is very different in India where it has become the driving variant and the states of Haryana and Kerala have reintroduced mask wearing in public. India's health ministry has even gone as far as to launch mock drills this week in an attempt to see if hospitals were prepared to deal with a possible influx of patients. And in India along with the typical symptoms of fever and a cough people have also been suffering from “itchy” conjunctivitis or pinkeye. Dr Vipin Vashishtha, a paediatrician and former head of the Indian Academy of Pediatrics Committee told The Hindustan Times about the unusual pattern of patients having the pinkeye in cases in the country. Meanwhile the World Health Organization is focusing attention on the new Omicron variant XBB.1.16., Arcturus, having started monitoring it on March 22 and this is what we know so far about it. Is it more infectious? Research shows that Arcturus could be 1.2 times more infectious than the previous significant sub-variant. Up until now the Kraken XBB.1.5 strain has been dominant but now the new variant is spreading in 22 countries and is more infectious, said Maria van Kerkhove, the WHO’s Covid technical lead. Ms Van Kerkhove told a press conference last month: "One of the variants that we are looking at, and I think you specifically mentioned India, is a variant that we have under monitoring. This is the XBB.1.16. "It’s actually very similar in profile to XBB.1.5. It has one additional mutation in the spike protein which in lab studies shows increase infectivity, as well as potential increased pathogenicity. So, it’s one that we are monitoring (...) because it has potential changes that we need to keep a good eye out on. Are cases more severe? While it is spreading more easily, there is no evidence to show it leads to more severe illness. "At the present time there’s only about 800 sequences of XBB.1.16 from 22 countries. Most of the sequences are from India and in India XBB.1.16 has replaced the other variants that are in circulation. So, this is one to watch. It has been in circulation for a few months," said Ms Van Kerkhove. She added: “So far reports do not indicate a rise in hospitalisations, ICU admissions, or deaths due to XBB.1.16." What is the impact in India? Figures from Our World in Data, run by Oxford University, show how cases have spiked in India in recent months. The hospital drills and the wearing of face masks in some states come as this week case numbers throughout India rose by 3,122 in a single day. India's severe reaction has been partly conditioned by a devastating second wave the country suffered - and a desire from politicians to avoid a repeat. What is the situation in the UK? The UKHSA said that it had been detected in the UK in the past 12 weeks. Like other international and global health bodies, it flagged new mutations present in XBB.1.16 that could cause problems. The Mirror understands that there were 66 sequences in the UK - these do not necessarily translate to 66 cases - but since then more instances of the virus have been brought in internationally.
New Covid variant Arcturus causing worrying 'new symptom' in children https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/new-covid-variant-arcturus-causing-26692846