Cases of Omicron's new 'XBB Variant' now 'Rising' in India

 

Omicron’s new XBB subvariant is now increasing in India. XBB, a “recombinant lineage” between two Omicron sublineages, BA.2.75 and BJ.1, is currently present in four states.

The new variant has now accounted for 71 cases in a few states of India, with Maharashtra reporting its first 5 cases on Thursday, followed by West Bengal, Odisha, and Tamil Nadu on the list. Odisha reported 33 cases in a fortnight, West Bengal reported 17 cases and Tamil Nadu reported 16 cases. Scientists said that BA.2.75 was responsible for approximately 88% of new infections in India, while the XBB subvariant was responsible for approximately 7% of all cases.

The XBB subvariant has also been reported in other countries including the United States (US), Australia, Bangladesh, Denmark, Singapore and Japan.

Reportedly, the variant is increasing rapidly in Singapore. XBB subvariant is currently dominating all other Omicron sub-variants in Singapore. Dr Leong Hoe Nam of Rophi Clinic, an infectious disease expert, said that the new subvariant has become the leading virus in Singapore. However, the health ministry said that there is still no evidence of the subvariant causing a severe outcome.

Earlier this year, scientists said that the Omicron Covid variant was much deadlier than other variants. The WHO (World Health Organization) also designated Omicron as a “variant of concern.” The Omicron variant was first reported in South Africa.

XBB variant

According to experts in Singapore, the XBB variant is more ‘transmissible’ than the previous COVID-19 variants. It is also known as BA.2.10, which evolved from the BA.2 Omicron subvariant strain.

According to the president of the Asia Pacific Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infection, the subvariant has emerged in countries with high vaccination rates. The president explained that all viruses evolve and become more transmissible and less virulent with time.