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Covid-19: Fiocruz warns of the possible advance of the XBB variant in Brazil


Strain XBB.1.5., also called ‘Kraken’, is associated with an increase in coronavirus hospitalizations in the United States

The Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz) issued a cautionary note on Friday 13 for a “significant increase” in possible cases of XBB variant from COVID-19 in the country. In a statement, the Brazilian institution highlighted that the new strain has spread throughout the world, especially the XBB.1.5 lineage. (called “Kraken”) in the United Statesassociated with an increase in hospitalizations due to coronavirus in the country.

According to a statement, the Fiocruz Genomic Network has identified an increase in positive tests for covid-19 without the mutation that characterizes the Ômicron strain BA.5 and its subvariants, which was seen in “virtually 100% of the tests performed”. Unlike Omicron (which has an identifiable mutation in diagnostic tests), XBB can only be detected through genetic sequencing.

Possible samples with XBB strains increased from 5% of the total analyzed in early December to 15% in the last week of that month. “Considering the global scenario of variant diversity of Sars-CoV-2, the researchers concluded that the increase of variants without this mutation may correspond to the XBB lineage,” the institution highlighted.

Fiocruz also highlighted that genomic sequencing data detected two samples with the XBB.1.5 lineage, in São Paulo. “However, December genomic data is still scarce, highlighting the importance of PCR variant inference tools for early detection of changing circulating profile of the virus.”

The PCR tests analyzed in the report were performed by a network of private laboratories collaborating with Fiocruz. The first case identified in Brazil on January 5 is a 54-year-old womanresident in the municipality of indaiatuba, interior of Sao Paulo.

THE World Health Organization (WHO) warned January 4 of rising XBB.1.5 cases in Europe and the United States. “XBB.1.5, a recombination of BA.2 sublines, is on the rise in Europe and the United States, has been identified in more than 25 countries, and WHO is monitoring it closely,” said the WHO Director-General. , Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

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Source: Terra

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