A new variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, XBB.1.5, has been detected in over 70 countries, according to the World Health Organisation. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has revealed that it accounts for 40% of cases in the US, and 75% in the northeast. Professor Tim Spector of King's College London has warned that it is the variant to watch out for this year, and it has the potential to evade antibodies from previous infections or vaccinations. Studies have found that XBB has caused surges of infection in some parts of Asia, including India and Singapore, in October.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has stated that while new variants of SARS-CoV-2 are not unexpected, vaccination remains the best defence against future COVID-19 waves. Other experts have warned that the emergence of XBB.1.5 is a “wake-up call” and could exacerbate the NHS crisis. Dr Meera Chand of the UKHSA has urged people to take up all doses for which they are eligible as soon as possible.
Dr Michael Osterholm of the University of Minnesota has warned that XBB.1.5 is “the next big one”, being both more immune evasive and better at infecting than previous variants. However, Dr Isaach Bogoch of the University of Toronto has stated that if a wave of XBB.1.5 occurs, it is less likely to be as deadly or overwhelming to health care systems as previous waves due to the immunity that has been built up.
Experts around the world have expressed concern over the emergence of the new XBB.1.5 variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. According to the World Health Organisation, the variant has been found in more than 70 countries, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stating that it accounted for 40% of cases in the US and 75% in the northeast. Professor Tim Spector of King's College London has highlighted XBB as the variant to “watch out for” this year.
Studies have found that XBB has the potential to evade antibodies from previous infections or vaccinations, and has caused surges of infection in some parts of Asia, including India and Singapore, in October. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has said that although new variants of SARS-CoV-2 are not unexpected, vaccination remains our best defence against future COVID-19 waves. Dr Michael Osterholm of the University of Minnesota has warned that XBB.1.5 is “the next big one”, being both more immune evasive and better at infecting than previous variants. Other experts have warned that the emergence of XBB.1.5 is a “wake-up call” and could exacerbate the NHS crisis, urging people to take up all doses for which they are eligible as soon as possible. However, Dr Isaach Bogoch of the University of Toronto has stated that if a wave of XBB.1.5 occurs, it is less likely to be as deadly or overwhelming to health care systems as previous waves due to the immunity that has been built up.