Covid-19: What we know about the Kraken variant, XBB.1.5, spreading rapidly in the US

WHO has turned on the alert for the strain, which has already been identified in more than 25 countries; new version of the virus comes from Omicron

The new subvariant of omicrona XBB.1.5it is expanding through WE and already accounts for about 40% of cases of COVID-19 in the country, up from 20% last week. In regions like New York, it is already responsible for 75% of infections. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) warn that the subvariant “may be more transmissible than other variants,” but they don’t yet know if it has “more serious” effects.

The American experts also point out that XBB.1.5 may be more difficult to neutralize with antibodies. With all these characteristics, it has earned the nickname Kraken (sea monster from Scandinavian mythology).

US hospitals have seen an increase in hospitalizations over the past month across the country, although the Northwest, which has high numbers for this subvariate, has not seen a disproportionate increase in hospitalizations compared to other regions.

THE World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Wednesday 4 about the increase in cases of XBB.1.5 in Europe and the United States. “XBB.1.5, a reassorting BA.2 strain, is on the rise in Europe and the United States, has been identified in over 25 countries, and WHO is monitoring it closely,” said the WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

“We will assess the risk of the subvariant and act accordingly,” Tedros added. He also warned that there has been an increase in hospitalizations and hospital pressure in the northern hemisphere in recent weeks, not only due to covid-19, but also due to other respiratory diseases, including the flu.

The increase in cases, however, is significantly less than it was a year ago, at the start of Omicron’s “original” breakthrough, when nearly 25 million positive diagnoses were reported weekly globally, seven times more than the levels current (although fewer tests are now performed due to the predominance of mild cases).

The emergence of Kraken coincides with the easing of the “covid zero” policy in China, which has caused the number of infections to explode in the Asian country. The escalation of cases is explained by the lack of preventive contact of the Chinese with the disease, the gaps in the coverage of booster doses and the non-application of vaccines that use other technologies, such as RNA, present in Pfizer and Moderna products. /With information from EFE

+The best content in your email for free. Choose your favorite Terra newsletter. Click here!

Source: Terra

Ben

Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.