China is facing a new wave of Covid-19 infections that could see as many as 65 million cases per week by the end of June. The latest omicron variant, XBB, has been fueling a resurgence in cases across China since late April. Watch this video to know more.

China prepares for new Covid variant with up to 65 million weekly cases

The Omicron subvariant XBB.1.5 might become a dominant strain in Europe in the upcoming months, said the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), on Friday. This comes days after the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced the number of COVID-19 infections caused by XBB.1.5 in the month of December increased from four per cent to 41 per cent. According to CDC’s data, the subvariant is also the cause of nearly 75 per cent of new infections in the northeast region of the US.&nbsp;

What is XBB.1.5?

The XBB.1.5 Omicron subvariant or the unofficially nicknamed “Kraken” by some scientists, is also an offshoot of XBB which was first detected in the US last year in October and has recently been dubbed the most transmissible variant.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/covid-in-usa-omicron-subvariant-xbb15-accounts-for-over-40-per-cent-cases-548265">Covid in USA: Omicron subvariant XBB.1.5 accounts for over 40 per cent cases&nbsp;</a>

According to Grace Roberts, a virologist at the University of Leeds in Britain, an additional mutation to its spike protein is what makes the subvariant different from its otherwise very similar predecessor XBB.1. Notably, this additional spike protein is the key that allows the virus into the body’s cells.&nbsp;

How transmissible is it?

A study by the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle, US conducted by virologist Trevor Bedford and his team, suggests that the subvariant has a reproduction number of 1.6 which means that on average every person infected with it will go on to infect 1.6 other people.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, according to recent estimates by the CDC, as of Friday (January 14), at least 43 per cent of all COVID-19 cases across the country have been due to XBB.1.5 which was at 30 per cent in the first week of January. Additionally, the ECDC said that citing the data from its modelling indicates XBB.1.5 could become the dominant strain in Europe in one or two months.

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-global-headlines-xbb15-could-be-dominant-in-europe-soon-552469">Gravitas Global Headlines: XBB.1.5 could be dominant in Europe soon</a>

The EU health agency said that currently, the subvariant in question only accounts for 2.5 per cent of European cases. Furthermore, the XBB.1.5 has been spreading at least 12.5 per cent faster than other variants in the US, said the ECDC.&nbsp;

So far, at least 38 countries have XBB.1.5 cases out of which 82 per cent are in the US, eight per cent in the UK, and two per cent are in Denmark, said the World Health Organization (WHO) following a rapid risk assessment, on Wednesday, reported AFP.&nbsp;

Additionally, the ECDC also noted the growth advantage that XBB.1.5 has over other Omicron variants which are 109 per cent in North America and 113 per cent in Europe. However, these figures come with “significant uncertainty”, the EU health agency added.&nbsp;

Why is it so transmissible?

Earlier this week, the WHO technical lead on Covid, Maria Van Kerkhove, said that the emerging XBB.1.5 variant is the most transmissible form of Covid and clearly had a “growth advantage” over other forms of the SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid. Meanwhile, the ECDC believes that the most likely explanation for its transmissibility is the XBB.1.5’s spike protein mutation combined with its already very transmissible predecessor the XBB variant.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/omicron-offshoot-to-xbb15-may-cause-new-covid-spike-in-the-us-confirms-cdc-549368">Omicron offshoot XBB.1.5 may cause new Covid spike in the US, confirms CDC</a>

“It’s likely there will be an increase in cases in the short term, though this will depend on the extent of XBB.1.5’s advantage and the various factors affecting SARS-CoV-2 transmission in general,” said Marlin Figgins, a University of Washington PhD student working in Bedford’s lab, as per the Scientific American.&nbsp;

Mutations and resistance to antibodies

The variant XBB was also known for its ability to evade the human immune system. It is also worth noting that since the beginning of the pandemic, mutations have been known to help viruses escape detection by a person’s immune system. As mentioned earlier, with the XBB.1.5’s mutation being in its spike protein it can bind to cells better, replicate faster and spread more easily.&nbsp;

According to a report by the Scientific American, while the exact mechanism behind XBB.1.5’s increased transmissibility remains unknown it could be the subvariant’s F486P mutation which allows it to sneak past the body’s defence mechanism as effectively as it does. Notably, the aforementioned spike protein mutation is both the new variant XBB.1.5’s defining feature and the main difference from its parental XBB.&nbsp;

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/xbb15-new-covid-subvariant-emergences-in-united-states-552513">XBB.1.5: New Covid subvariant emergences in United States</a>

According to WHO, Omicron’s XBB variants, alongside BQ.1 remain resistant to both antibodies built from vaccinations as well as previous infections. Last month, a study published in the journal Cell said that XBB.1 is 63 times less likely to be affected by existing antibodies when compared to the BA.2 subvariant and 49 times more resistant than the BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants.&nbsp;

Symptoms and severity&nbsp;

As the WHO continues to assess data on the subvariant, it said that so far it did not carry any mutations that are known to increase the severity of the disease. Similarly, Roberts from the UK also told AFP that there is no data that suggests the subvariant is “anymore harmful – in terms of severe disease and death than previous variants”.&nbsp;

In a recent interview, the American Medical Association (AMA) Vice President of Science, Medicine and Public Health, Andrea Garcia, said, “Symptoms with XBB 1.5 appear to be similar to the earlier Omicron variants, and those can range from cold symptoms to shortness of breath and low oxygen levels that require emergency medical attention.”&nbsp;

ALSO WATCH&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/covid-19-splinters-into-multiple-variants-what-is-the-xbb-covid-strain-526318">Covid-19 splinters into multiple variants; What is the XBB covid strain?</a>

She also pointed out that with the emergence and spread of new variants, the signs of symptoms of Covid seem different than what was seen earlier in the pandemic, referring to people losing their sense of taste and smell. The AMA VP said that while it still happens in some cases, it has become rare with the Omicron variant.&nbsp;

“The experts generally believe that the symptoms of Covid have become less severe over time. That could be because they tend to remain in the upper respiratory tract and don’t affect the lungs as much as earlier variants,” said Garcia.&nbsp;

Additionally, she went on to attribute this immunity and people reporting milder symptoms like cough, congestion and a headache in the US to having some level of immunity either from the vaccines or prior infection. However, since they can be confused with having a cold or flu the AMA VP recommends getting tested for Covid if one should experience any of these symptoms.&nbsp;

Should we be concerned?

According to a report by AFP, the University of Leeds virologist says there is “no cause to panic” about the new subvariant and she does not believe that there is a need for “any drastic action at present”. However, Roberts noted that it is important for the countries to monitor the progression and spread of XBB.1.5.&nbsp;

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/xbb-strain-detected-in-17-countries-is-there-a-need-for-variant-specific-booster-vaccines-528557">XBB strain detected in 17 countries: Is there a need for variant specific booster vaccines?</a> 
 
Similarly, even the ECDC said that while the Omicron subvariant has become a dominant strain in the US, that might not be the case for Europe as observed earlier by the “major differences in variant circulation” throughout the pandemic.&nbsp;

Furthermore, WHO official Kerkhove, also noted that their concern is about how transmissible it is and although many parts of the world are witnessing further waves of infection it does not “translate into further waves of death”, which she has attributed to countermeasures such as vaccines.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

&nbsp;

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The Omicron subvariant XBB.1.5 might become a dominant strain in Europe in the upcoming months, said the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), on Friday.

The Omicron subvariant XBB.1.5 might become a dominant strain in Europe in the upcoming months, said the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), on Friday. This comes days after the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced the number of COVID-19 infections caused by XBB.1.5 in the month of December increased from four per cent to 41 per cent. According to CDC’s data, the subvariant is also the cause of nearly 75 per cent of new infections in the northeast region of the US. What is XBB.1.5? The XBB.1.5 Omicron subvariant or the unofficially nicknamed “Kraken” by some scientists, is also an offshoot of XBB which was first detected in the US last year in October and has recently been dubbed the most transmissible variant. ALSO READ | Covid in USA: Omicron subvariant XBB.1.5 accounts for over 40 per cent cases According to Grace Roberts, a virologist at the University of Leeds in Britain, an additional mutation to its spike protein is what makes the subvariant different from its otherwise very similar predecessor XBB.1. Notably, this additional spike protein is the key that allows the virus into the body’s cells. How transmissible is it? A study by the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle, US conducted by virologist Trevor Bedford and his team, suggests that the subvariant has a reproduction number of 1.6 which means that on average every person infected with it will go on to infect 1.6 other people. Meanwhile, according to recent estimates by the CDC, as of Friday (January 14), at least 43 per cent of all COVID-19 cases across the country have been due to XBB.1.5 which was at 30 per cent in the first week of January. Additionally, the ECDC said that citing the data from its modelling indicates XBB.1.5 could become the dominant strain in Europe in one or two months. ALSO WATCH | Gravitas Global Headlines: XBB.1.5 could be dominant in Europe soon The EU health agency said that currently, the subvariant in question only accounts for 2.5 per cent of European cases. Furthermore, the XBB.1.5 has been spreading at least 12.5 per cent faster than other variants in the US, said the ECDC. So far, at least 38 countries have XBB.1.5 cases out of which 82 per cent are in the US, eight per cent in the UK, and two per cent are in Denmark, said the World Health Organization (WHO) following a rapid risk assessment, on Wednesday, reported AFP. Additionally, the ECDC also noted the growth advantage that XBB.1.5 has over other Omicron variants which are 109 per cent in North America and 113 per cent in Europe. However, these figures come with “significant uncertainty”, the EU health agency added. Why is it so transmissible? Earlier this week, the WHO technical lead on Covid, Maria Van Kerkhove, said that the emerging XBB.1.5 variant is the most transmissible form of Covid and clearly had a “growth advantage” over other forms of the SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid. Meanwhile, the ECDC believes that the most likely explanation for its transmissibility is the XBB.1.5’s spike protein mutation combined with its already very transmissible predecessor the XBB variant. ALSO READ | Omicron offshoot XBB.1.5 may cause new Covid spike in the US, confirms CDC “It’s likely there will be an increase in cases in the short term, though this will depend on the extent of XBB.1.5’s advantage and the various factors affecting SARS-CoV-2 transmission in general,” said Marlin Figgins, a University of Washington PhD student working in Bedford’s lab, as per the Scientific American. Mutations and resistance to antibodies The variant XBB was also known for its ability to evade the human immune system. It is also worth noting that since the beginning of the pandemic, mutations have been known to help viruses escape detection by a person’s immune system. As mentioned earlier, with the XBB.1.5’s mutation being in its spike protein it can bind to cells better, replicate faster and spread more easily. According to a report by the Scientific American, while the exact mechanism behind XBB.1.5’s increased transmissibility remains unknown it could be the subvariant’s F486P mutation which allows it to sneak past the body’s defence mechanism as effectively as it does. Notably, the aforementioned spike protein mutation is both the new variant XBB.1.5’s defining feature and the main difference from its parental XBB. ALSO WATCH | XBB.1.5: New Covid subvariant emergences in United States According to WHO, Omicron’s XBB variants, alongside BQ.1 remain resistant to both antibodies built from vaccinations as well as previous infections. Last month, a study published in the journal Cell said that XBB.1 is 63 times less likely to be affected by existing antibodies when compared to the BA.2 subvariant and 49 times more resistant than the BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants. Symptoms and severity As the WHO continues to assess data on the subvariant, it said that so far it did not carry any mutations that are known to increase the severity of the disease. Similarly, Roberts from the UK also told AFP that there is no data that suggests the subvariant is “anymore harmful – in terms of severe disease and death than previous variants”. In a recent interview, the American Medical Association (AMA) Vice President of Science, Medicine and Public Health, Andrea Garcia, said, “Symptoms with XBB 1.5 appear to be similar to the earlier Omicron variants, and those can range from cold symptoms to shortness of breath and low oxygen levels that require emergency medical attention.” ALSO WATCH | Covid-19 splinters into multiple variants; What is the XBB covid strain? She also pointed out that with the emergence and spread of new variants, the signs of symptoms of Covid seem different than what was seen earlier in the pandemic, referring to people losing their sense of taste and smell. The AMA VP said that while it still happens in some cases, it has become rare with the Omicron variant. “The experts generally believe that the symptoms of Covid have become less severe over time. That could be because they tend to remain in the upper respiratory tract and don’t affect the lungs as much as earlier variants,” said Garcia. Additionally, she went on to attribute this immunity and people reporting milder symptoms like cough, congestion and a headache in the US to having some level of immunity either from the vaccines or prior infection. However, since they can be confused with having a cold or flu the AMA VP recommends getting tested for Covid if one should experience any of these symptoms. Should we be concerned? According to a report by AFP, the University of Leeds virologist says there is “no cause to panic” about the new subvariant and she does not believe that there is a need for “any drastic action at present”. However, Roberts noted that it is important for the countries to monitor the progression and spread of XBB.1.5. ALSO WATCH | XBB strain detected in 17 countries: Is there a need for variant specific booster vaccines? Similarly, even the ECDC said that while the Omicron subvariant has become a dominant strain in the US, that might not be the case for Europe as observed earlier by the “major differences in variant circulation” throughout the pandemic. Furthermore, WHO official Kerkhove, also noted that their concern is about how transmissible it is and although many parts of the world are witnessing further waves of infection it does not “translate into further waves of death”, which she has attributed to countermeasures such as vaccines. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Explained: Why is XBB.1.5 or ‘Kraken’ the most transmissible Covid subvariant?

The new XBB strain of the coronavirus has been detected in 17 countries with Hong Kong recording 140 cases of them. Is there a need for variant specific booster vaccines?

XBB strain detected in 17 countries: Is there a need for variant specific booster vaccines?

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