This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-64164306
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| What is known about new Covid variant XBB.1.5? | What is known about new Covid variant XBB.1.5? |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| A new Covid sub-variant is causing some concern in the US, where it is spreading rapidly. | A new Covid sub-variant is causing some concern in the US, where it is spreading rapidly. |
| Some cases have been recorded in the UK, so what do you need to know about XBB.1.5? | Some cases have been recorded in the UK, so what do you need to know about XBB.1.5? |
| What is XBB.1.5? | What is XBB.1.5? |
| It is yet another offshoot of the globally dominant Omicron Covid variant, which itself followed the earlier alpha, beta, gamma and delta variants. | It is yet another offshoot of the globally dominant Omicron Covid variant, which itself followed the earlier alpha, beta, gamma and delta variants. |
| Omicron has outperformed all previous versions of coronavirus since it emerged in late 2021, and has given rise to many sub-variants which are even more contagious than the original. | Omicron has outperformed all previous versions of coronavirus since it emerged in late 2021, and has given rise to many sub-variants which are even more contagious than the original. |
| Symptoms of XBB.1.5 are thought to be similar to those of previous Omicron strains, but it's still too early to confirm this. Most people experience cold-like symptoms. | Symptoms of XBB.1.5 are thought to be similar to those of previous Omicron strains, but it's still too early to confirm this. Most people experience cold-like symptoms. |
| Is XBB.1.5 more infectious or dangerous than earlier variants? | Is XBB.1.5 more infectious or dangerous than earlier variants? |
| XBB.1.5 itself evolved from XBB, which began circulating in the UK in September 2022, but which has not been classified as a so-called "variant of concern" by health authorities. | XBB.1.5 itself evolved from XBB, which began circulating in the UK in September 2022, but which has not been classified as a so-called "variant of concern" by health authorities. |
| XBB had a mutation that helped it beat the body's immune defences, but this same quality also reduced its ability to infect human cells. | XBB had a mutation that helped it beat the body's immune defences, but this same quality also reduced its ability to infect human cells. |
| Prof Wendy Barclay from Imperial College London said XBB.1.5 had a mutation known as F486P, which restores this ability to bind to cells while continuing to evade immunity. That makes it spread more easily. | Prof Wendy Barclay from Imperial College London said XBB.1.5 had a mutation known as F486P, which restores this ability to bind to cells while continuing to evade immunity. That makes it spread more easily. |
| She said these evolutionary changes were like "stepping stones", as the virus evolves to find new ways of bypassing the body's self-defence mechanisms. | She said these evolutionary changes were like "stepping stones", as the virus evolves to find new ways of bypassing the body's self-defence mechanisms. |
| Scientists from the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed on Wednesday that XBB.1.5 has a "growth advantage" above all other sub-variants seen so far. | Scientists from the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed on Wednesday that XBB.1.5 has a "growth advantage" above all other sub-variants seen so far. |
| But they said there was no indication it was more serious or harmful than previous Omicron variants. | But they said there was no indication it was more serious or harmful than previous Omicron variants. |
| The WHO said it would keep a close watch on lab studies, hospital data and infection rates to find out more about its impact on patients. | The WHO said it would keep a close watch on lab studies, hospital data and infection rates to find out more about its impact on patients. |
| Who can get a Covid booster this winter? | Who can get a Covid booster this winter? |
| Where is XBB.1.5 spreading? | Where is XBB.1.5 spreading? |
| Over 40% of Covid cases in the United States are estimated to be caused by XBB.1.5, making it the dominant strain in the country. | Over 40% of Covid cases in the United States are estimated to be caused by XBB.1.5, making it the dominant strain in the country. |
| At the beginning of December, it accounted for only 4% of cases so it has quickly overtaken other versions of Omicron. | At the beginning of December, it accounted for only 4% of cases so it has quickly overtaken other versions of Omicron. |
| Covid hospital admissions have been rising in recent weeks across the US. | Covid hospital admissions have been rising in recent weeks across the US. |
| US brings back free at-home Covid tests | US brings back free at-home Covid tests |
| The UK Health Security Agency is due to release a report on variants spreading in the UK next week, and may refer to XBB.1.5. | The UK Health Security Agency is due to release a report on variants spreading in the UK next week, and may refer to XBB.1.5. |
| Could the XBB.1.5 variant take off in the UK? | Could the XBB.1.5 variant take off in the UK? |
| Nothing is certain, but it does look likely. | Nothing is certain, but it does look likely. |
| The UK had five Omicron waves in 2022, and further spikes in cases are inevitable. | The UK had five Omicron waves in 2022, and further spikes in cases are inevitable. |
| Figures for the week to Saturday 17 December from the Sanger Institute in Cambridge suggested that one in 25 Covid cases in the UK were XBB.1.5. | Figures for the week to Saturday 17 December from the Sanger Institute in Cambridge suggested that one in 25 Covid cases in the UK were XBB.1.5. |
| But that was based on just nine samples, so we'll need to wait for a week or two to get a better picture of how it is spreading. | But that was based on just nine samples, so we'll need to wait for a week or two to get a better picture of how it is spreading. |
| Prof Barclay said she expected more hospitalisations in the UK if the variant takes off here, "as we expect it to do". | Prof Barclay said she expected more hospitalisations in the UK if the variant takes off here, "as we expect it to do". |
| Prof Paul Hunter from the University of East Anglia, said: "The balance of probabilities is that XBB.1.5 will trigger a wave here later this month, but we can't be sure." | Prof Paul Hunter from the University of East Anglia, said: "The balance of probabilities is that XBB.1.5 will trigger a wave here later this month, but we can't be sure." |
| NHS England has said the fears of a "twindemic" of Covid and flu have been realised, with both viruses putting strain on an already stretched NHS. | NHS England has said the fears of a "twindemic" of Covid and flu have been realised, with both viruses putting strain on an already stretched NHS. |
| Covid putting massive pressure on NHS - Barclay | Covid putting massive pressure on NHS - Barclay |
| Covid vaccines provide most people with good protection against serious illness | |
| Are scientists worried about XBB.1.5? | Are scientists worried about XBB.1.5? |
| Prof Barclay said she was not especially concerned about the general UK population because there was "no indication" that XBB.1.5 would "breakthrough" the protection against severe illness provided by vaccines. | Prof Barclay said she was not especially concerned about the general UK population because there was "no indication" that XBB.1.5 would "breakthrough" the protection against severe illness provided by vaccines. |
| But she is worried about its effect on the vulnerable, including the immunocompromised, who get less benefit from Covid jabs. | But she is worried about its effect on the vulnerable, including the immunocompromised, who get less benefit from Covid jabs. |
| Prof Hunter said he'd seen no evidence that XBB.1.5 was more virulent, meaning it was no more likely to "put you in hospital or kill you" than existing Omicron variants. | Prof Hunter said he'd seen no evidence that XBB.1.5 was more virulent, meaning it was no more likely to "put you in hospital or kill you" than existing Omicron variants. |
| He added: "It's ironic that everyone is focussing on possible variants emerging from China, but XBB.1.5 came out of the US." | He added: "It's ironic that everyone is focussing on possible variants emerging from China, but XBB.1.5 came out of the US." |
| Prof David Heymann from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine acknowledged that there was still a fair amount to learn about this latest variant. | Prof David Heymann from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine acknowledged that there was still a fair amount to learn about this latest variant. |
| But he said it was unlikely to cause major problems in countries like the UK which have high levels of vaccination and previous infections. | But he said it was unlikely to cause major problems in countries like the UK which have high levels of vaccination and previous infections. |
| His concern was for countries like China, where there was both low take-up of vaccines and little natural immunity because of prolonged lockdowns. | His concern was for countries like China, where there was both low take-up of vaccines and little natural immunity because of prolonged lockdowns. |
| "China needs to share clinical information on people infected in order to see how the variant behaves in a non-immune population," Prof Heymann said. | "China needs to share clinical information on people infected in order to see how the variant behaves in a non-immune population," Prof Heymann said. |
| How is China trying to beat its latest Covid surge? | How is China trying to beat its latest Covid surge? |