A new sub-variant of Arcturus Covid has arrived in the UK and is considered the most contagious strain, according to a study.
According to a University of Tokyo study, Arcturus, or XBB.1.16, is nearly 1.2 times more infectious than XBB.1.5, commonly known as Kraken, the most infectious subvariant to date.
This is wreaking havoc in India, increasing the total number of Covid cases 13 times in a month, and now hospitals are back on red and with mandatory face masks.
It is only 0.4% of cases in the UK according to the GISAID database, but this proportion is expected to increase significantly.
However, the subvariant, first identified in late January, is not considered more severe than XBB.1.5.
“We show that XBB.1.5 has an effective spread 1.17 times higher than XBB.1.16,” said Kei Sato of the University of Tokyo.
The reproductive or “R” number is a measure of how much an infected person infects.
He suggested that the higher R number might be because mutations in the new subvariant make it harder for the immune system to defend itself.
“This has been around for months. We haven’t noticed any change in severity in individuals or populations, so we’ve implemented these systems,” says Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove of the World Health Organization.
It is also not thought to be better at bypassing immunity created by previous infections or vaccinations, although given the high evasion rates the Kraken has shown, this may not be as convenient as preliminary research suggests.
“Our results show that XBB.1.16, like XBB.1.5, is resistant to a wide range [Covid] Antibodies … The ability of XBB.1.16 to demonstrate a profound evasion of the immune response is similar to the ability of XBB.1.5, ”said the doctor. sato
A new subvariant has been identified in at least 27 countries.
It accounts for about 5 percent of cases in the US and Australia and 12 percent in Singapore, according to GISAID.
Professor Lawrence Young, a virologist at the University of Warwick, said: [study report] confirms the growth advantage of XBB.1.16 and its ability to evade partially neutralizing immunity caused by previous infections with other Omicron variants.
“While it is clear that XBB.1.16 is more contagious and capable of spreading, Omicron-targeted booster shots will provide some protection, highlighting the need for those who qualify (over 75 and clinically vulnerable) to get their booster shots in order to get vaccinations. And the antiviral Paxlovid will remain an effective treatment.”
He added: “The particularly rapid emergence of XBB.1.16 in India is of concern given the level of immunity of this population to previous infections and vaccinations. Current reports do not show an increase in admissions, intensive care unit admissions or deaths, but we need to keep an eye on this option as it continues to spread.
“The danger is that, with reduced surveillance in the UK, reduced immunity to previous infections and vaccinations, and general complacency, we are not well prepared to deal with the next wave of infections.”
Steve Griffin, a virologist at the University of Leeds, said: “As with all of these new sub-variants, there appears to be a clear advantage in terms of antibody evasion and infectivity over previous strains, meaning we are likely to see another wave. “cm.” . As in 2022 and earlier this year, the size of these waves is difficult to predict.”
Source: I News
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