Health authorities in China warned of a potential resurgence of Covid this month driven by the JN.1 subvariant. According to a report by CGTN, the National Health Commission (NHC) highlighted the increasing presence of JN.1, and said that multiple respiratory diseases were likely to spread this winter and next spring.

China warns of Covid rebound this month driven by JN.1 subvariant

The new Omicron subvariant XBB.1.16, dubbed “Arcturus”, which has been driving up cases in India, has also been reported across the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has said.

The new variant accounts for 7 per cent of the new cases reported this week, CDS in its weekly bulletin released on Friday said.

This is the first time that CDC has flagged separate Covid cases under XBB.1.16. Previously, all infections were clubbed under the XBB variant.

Most of the Covid cases accounted for in the US are due to XBB variants, with XBB.1.5, also known as “Kraken,” believed to be representing more than three-quarters of cases. Experts, however, note that levels are waning.

Meanwhile, the Southeast Asia region is witnessing a spurt in cases due to XBB.1.16. WHO’s Southeast Asia region said that India, Indonesia, Thailand, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bhutan, and Timor-Leste have reported a nearly 500 per cent rise in cases month over month.

Reported cases are also trending upward in the Eastern Mediterranean region—there, they’ve increased slightly more than 100% month over month.

The new variant has been identified in 29 countries so far, with cases doubling from the last full week of March to the first partial week of April, according to the WHO’s Thursday update.

<h2>World has 28% risk of new Covid-like pandemic within 10 years: Study</h2>

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The Arcturus variant is considered more transmissible and immune-evasive than its predecessors and may escape immunity acquired by previous infections or vaccines.

The symptoms are common with most of its predecessors, but doctors in India have noted a slight change, especially in children and the elderly.

Cases of conjunctivitis, or pink eye, without pus, but causing “sticky eye” have been reported among children in the country. It’s a symptom that hasn’t often been noted with other Covid variants.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared XBB.1.16 a “variant under monitoring” in late March saying that it is the most transmissible variant yet.

Maria Van Kerkhove, Covid technical lead for the WHO, said, XBB.1.16 variant is considered “one to watch" by the world health body.

XBB.1.16 is a recombinant of two sub-variants-BA2.10.1 and BA.2.75. A preprint study from scientists at the University of Tokyo said that the variant spreads about 1.17 to 1.27 times more efficiently than relatives XBB.1 and XBB.1.5 and claimed that it “will spread worldwide in the near future” as it seems “robustly resistant” to antibodies from other Covid variants. 
 
(With inputs from agencies) 
 
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The new Omicron subvariant XBB.1.16, dubbed “Arcturus”, which has been driving up cases in India, has also been reported across the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has said.

The new Omicron subvariant XBB.1.16, dubbed “Arcturus”, which has been driving up cases in India, has also been reported across the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has said. The new variant accounts for 7 per cent of the new cases reported this week, CDS in its weekly bulletin released on Friday said. This is the first time that CDC has flagged separate Covid cases under XBB.1.16. Previously, all infections were clubbed under the XBB variant. Most of the Covid cases accounted for in the US are due to XBB variants, with XBB.1.5, also known as “Kraken,” believed to be representing more than three-quarters of cases. Experts, however, note that levels are waning. Meanwhile, the Southeast Asia region is witnessing a spurt in cases due to XBB.1.16. WHO’s Southeast Asia region said that India, Indonesia, Thailand, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bhutan, and Timor-Leste have reported a nearly 500 per cent rise in cases month over month. Reported cases are also trending upward in the Eastern Mediterranean region—there, they’ve increased slightly more than 100% month over month. The new variant has been identified in 29 countries so far, with cases doubling from the last full week of March to the first partial week of April, according to the WHO’s Thursday update. World has 28% risk of new Covid-like pandemic within 10 years: Study The Arcturus variant is considered more transmissible and immune-evasive than its predecessors and may escape immunity acquired by previous infections or vaccines. The symptoms are common with most of its predecessors, but doctors in India have noted a slight change, especially in children and the elderly. Cases of conjunctivitis, or pink eye, without pus, but causing “sticky eye” have been reported among children in the country. It’s a symptom that hasn’t often been noted with other Covid variants. The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared XBB.1.16 a “variant under monitoring” in late March saying that it is the most transmissible variant yet. Maria Van Kerkhove, Covid technical lead for the WHO, said, XBB.1.16 variant is considered “one to watch" by the world health body. XBB.1.16 is a recombinant of two sub-variants-BA2.10.1 and BA.2.75. A preprint study from scientists at the University of Tokyo said that the variant spreads about 1.17 to 1.27 times more efficiently than relatives XBB.1 and XBB.1.5 and claimed that it “will spread worldwide in the near future” as it seems “robustly resistant” to antibodies from other Covid variants. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

XBB.1.16 Covid subvariant ‘Arcturus’ now spreading in US after India: CDC

A more contagious subvariant of COVID-19’s Omicron, BA.2.75 variant —nicknamed “Centaurus”—has now emerged in The Netherlands, alarming experts who are concerned over the strain’s rapid spread.

According to reports, the variant was found in a sample from the Northeast Gelderland region. &nbsp;The sample was collected on June 26.

It 'has also now been identified in the Netherlands,' the&nbsp;Dutch&nbsp;National Institute of Public Health said in a statement on Wednesday, according to AFP.

The Centaurus subvariant first emerged in India in May and has since been detected in 14 other countries, including Australia, Canada, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, according to WHO Covid-19 Technical Lead, Maria Van Kerkhove.&nbsp;

Though little is known about the new subvariant, there have been concerns about the contagious nature of the virus.

Last week, the World Health Organisation's chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan said that they are closely monitoring the situation, but there were "limited sequences to analyse".

"This sub-variant seems to have a few mutations on the receptor binding domain of the spike protein... so we have to watch that," she said in a tweeted video.

She further said that was "too early to know" how well the strain can evade immunity or how severe it was.

In an interview to AFP, Antoine Flahault, director of the Institute of Global Health at the University of Geneva said that BA.2.75 might be more contagious than BA.5 Omicron subvariant since it is driving up cases in India.

"It seems to be becoming the dominant strain in India - the question is will it become the dominant strain all over the world?"

(With inputs from agencies)

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A more contagious subvariant of COVID-19’s Omicron, BA.2.75 variant —nicknamed “Centaurus”—has now emerged in The Netherlands, alarming experts who are concerned over the strain’s rapid spread.

A more contagious subvariant of COVID-19’s Omicron, BA.2.75 variant —nicknamed “Centaurus”—has now emerged in The Netherlands, alarming experts who are concerned over the strain’s rapid spread. According to reports, the variant was found in a sample from the Northeast Gelderland region. The sample was collected on June 26. It 'has also now been identified in the Netherlands,' the Dutch National Institute of Public Health said in a statement on Wednesday, according to AFP. The Centaurus subvariant first emerged in India in May and has since been detected in 14 other countries, including Australia, Canada, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, according to WHO Covid-19 Technical Lead, Maria Van Kerkhove. Though little is known about the new subvariant, there have been concerns about the contagious nature of the virus. Last week, the World Health Organisation's chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan said that they are closely monitoring the situation, but there were "limited sequences to analyse". "This sub-variant seems to have a few mutations on the receptor binding domain of the spike protein... so we have to watch that," she said in a tweeted video. She further said that was "too early to know" how well the strain can evade immunity or how severe it was. In an interview to AFP, Antoine Flahault, director of the Institute of Global Health at the University of Geneva said that BA.2.75 might be more contagious than BA.5 Omicron subvariant since it is driving up cases in India. "It seems to be becoming the dominant strain in India - the question is will it become the dominant strain all over the world?" (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Netherlands detects first case of ‘more contagious’ Centaurus Covid subvariant

Coronavirus pandemic has been troublesome for most parts of the world in last two years. What’s more worrisome is the emergence of variants and subvariants. &nbsp;&nbsp;

One subvariant, which can prove to be as deadly as Delta and previously identified Covid variants is Omicron subvariant BA.2. It can also be called as ‘stealth Omicron’. &nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/covid-19-new-zealand-police-clash-with-anti-vaccine-demonstrators-455231" hreflang="en">COVID-19: New Zealand police clash with anti-vaccine demonstrators</a>

The new lab studies have revealed that this subvariant BA.2 can cause severe illnesses. Considering this, epidemiologist Eric Fang has voiced concern and wants it to be upgraded as ‘variant of concern’. &nbsp;&nbsp;

This subvariant may have features, which can make it capable of causing serious illnesses. It has immune escape properties just like sub-variant BA.1. It is resistant to treatments like sotrovimab, the monoclonal antibody. &nbsp;

Although the study is yet to be peer-reviewed, it has been posted on the preprint repository, BioRxiv. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/covid-19-new-zealand-pm-jacinda-ardern-signals-mandates-will-ease-after-omicron-peaks-454979" hreflang="en">COVID-19: New Zealand PM Jacinda&nbsp;Ardern signals mandates will ease after Omicron peaks</a>

Although BA.2 is considered as an Omicron variant, its genomic sequence is heavily different from BA.1, the researchers said. “And, this suggests that the virological characteristics of BA.2 are different from that of BA.1," they added. &nbsp;&nbsp;

In a tweet, Fang said that BA2 is seriously bad news. It’s both faster transmission than BA2 and if it’s truly more severe and as evasive against prior immunity including BA1 old Omicron immunity— then it’d be the worse of four worlds. &nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) &nbsp;&nbsp;

Coronavirus pandemic has been troublesome for most parts of the world in last two years. What’s more worrisome is the emergence of variants and subvariants. One subvariant, which can prove to be as deadly as Delta and previously identified Covid variants is Omicron subvariant BA.

Coronavirus pandemic has been troublesome for most parts of the world in last two years. What’s more worrisome is the emergence of variants and subvariants. One subvariant, which can prove to be as deadly as Delta and previously identified Covid variants is Omicron subvariant BA.2. It can also be called as ‘stealth Omicron’. Also Read | COVID-19: New Zealand police clash with anti-vaccine demonstrators The new lab studies have revealed that this subvariant BA.2 can cause severe illnesses. Considering this, epidemiologist Eric Fang has voiced concern and wants it to be upgraded as ‘variant of concern’. This subvariant may have features, which can make it capable of causing serious illnesses. It has immune escape properties just like sub-variant BA.1. It is resistant to treatments like sotrovimab, the monoclonal antibody. Although the study is yet to be peer-reviewed, it has been posted on the preprint repository, BioRxiv. Also Read | COVID-19: New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern signals mandates will ease after Omicron peaks Although BA.2 is considered as an Omicron variant, its genomic sequence is heavily different from BA.1, the researchers said. “And, this suggests that the virological characteristics of BA.2 are different from that of BA.1," they added. In a tweet, Fang said that BA2 is seriously bad news. It’s both faster transmission than BA2 and if it’s truly more severe and as evasive against prior immunity including BA1 old Omicron immunity— then it’d be the worse of four worlds. (With inputs from agencies)