What is Covid variant XBB.1.5 that caused more than 40% of new cases in US, details here

New Delhi: While China continues to reel under severe onslaught of Covid wave, United States is beset with the mass spread of a super variant named XBB.1.5.

The highly contagious variant XBB.1.5 is the reason behind at least 40% of the Covid-19 cases in US, Center for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) said in its findings.

According to CDC data, the number of cases double in last week, sending the alarm bells ringing for the medical establishments.

The report said that the Covid Omicron variant is a stronger variant & tends to evade immune system of humans, thus accounting for its fast spread.

The ‘super variant’ XBB.1.5 accounted for about 21% cases last week but just in 7 days, it crossed 40% of Covid contracted cases.

Several provinces of United States are witnessing surge in hospitalizations due to new Omicron variant. A couple of variants namely BA.2, XBB and XBB.1.5 are said to be driving strains of Omicron behind surging cases in the United States.

According to a virologist at Johns Hopkins University, the XBB.1.5 is a highly mutated form of virus and since it is binding well with the human cell, the infection & contagiousness is higher as compared to others.

Why XBB.1.variant is a matter of concern

The spread of super variant XBB.1.5 has come has triggered alarm bells because its intensity & contagious has overwhelmed the medical fraternity. In facts, scientists across the globe have been studying this variant for months as it was undergoing mutations.

XBB was first identified in August and then it went on to evolve into a family of sub-variants namely XBB.1 and XBB.1.5.

The XBB.1.5 strain has been seen to bypass antibodies from vaccination as well as dodging protection from booster doses.