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WHO warns new Omicron offshoot XBB.1.16 should be "watched closely" but has not yet been proven to be more serious

WHO warns new Omicron offshoot XBB.1.16 should be "watched closely" but has not yet been proven to be more serious

,   and  ASMedia
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WHO warns new Omicron offshoot XBB.1.16 should be "watched closely" but has not yet been proven to be more serious
WHO warns new Omicron offshoot XBB.1.16 should be "watched closely" but has not yet been proven to be more serious

The World Health Organization (WHO) is keeping a close eye on a new Omicron offshoot, XBB.1.16, which shares similarities with the prevalent variant XBB.1.5 in the US. WHO technical leader for Covid-19, Maria Van Kerkhove, mentioned that XBB.1.16 has an additional mutation, believed to make it more contagious and potentially harmful in lab studies.

At the moment, no severe changes in disease severity for individuals or groups have been observed. XBB.1.16 primarily originates from India, dominating the country's Covid-19 cases, which have more than doubled in the past week without reaching alarming levels according to WHO data.

While Omicron continues to be a global concern due to the spreading of numerous sublineages, Covid-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths in the US have persisted in a downward trend. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that less than 1% of US districts have high Covid-19 infection rates.

An analysis of the text revealed two pertinent sentences related to "Omicron":

  1. "Omicron remains a concerning variant globally, as hundreds of sublineages continue to spread."
  2. "Despite Omicron's continued spread, the number of Covid-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths in the United States continues to decrease."

To provide a more detailed perspective, the Omicron offshoot, XBB.1.16 or Arcturus, has several characteristics and implications for COVID-19 infections:

  • XBB.1.16 is a recombinant of BA.2.10.1 and BA.2.75, exhibiting new spike proteins and a potential resistance to antibodies from previous infections or vaccines.
  • It spreads easily and shows a higher tendency to infect compared to XBB.1 and XBB.1.5.
  • The virus tends to cause mild symptoms like a runny nose, headache, cough, and sore throat, with a higher likelihood of pink eye as a symptom. High-risk groups remain vulnerable to complications.
  • No specific drugs or treatments are available, with RT-PCR tests serving as the primary method of diagnosis.

In summary, XBB.1.16 is a highly contagious variant of Omicron posing risks for high-risk populations. While it generally causes mild symptoms, continued vaccination efforts and public health measures are crucial due to its potential for reinfections and immune evasion properties.

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