After dealing with Omicrons subvariants BA.4 and BA.5, the United States is again shaken by another fast-spreading new Covid-19 sub-variant, called XBB—or Gryphon, gaining plenty of attention as it might overtake the world in the near future.
The latest reports from the infectious disease specialist reveal that “XBB is a part of a ‘New Class’ of Omicron.”
The new variant is getting more attention because firstly, it spreads fast, and secondly, it possibly could attack the immunity from the previous Covid-19 variant, professor William Schaffner, M.D. at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine reported. “It’s early days and we have a lot to learn” Schaffner, added.
About XBB Covid Variant:
The XBB variant is “one of the ‘new class’ of Omicron variants that are spreading fast right now” and includes “BQ.1.1, BQ.1, BQ.1.3, BA.2.3.20, and XBB” says the University at Buffalo’s professor and chief of infectious disease, Thomas Russo.
“XBB is a hybrid version of two strains of the BA.2 form of Omicron,” elaborated the senior scholar Amesh A. Adalja, M.D at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. It is currently invading Singapore, he added.
After first being detected in India in August last year, the virus has spread to 17 different countries, including Japan, Denmark, Bangladesh, Australia, and the US. Physician-scientist Eric Topol updated on Twitter that XBB.1.5 variant accounts for 90% of the new cases. “In the United States, it’s all the XBB.1.5 variant, now accounting 90% of new cases. Still no other variant showing gains (which is good),”he Tweeted.
