Source AP: First case of micron variant detected in the US.
DrPixel/Getty ImagesCentral Texas saw an increase in COVID-19 cases last week, leading Austin Public Health to upgrade the Travis County community from low to medium, with the county identifying the XBB.1 omicron strain. Now another highly contagious omicron variant has been discovered.
A sub-variant of XBB.1.5, named “Kraken” after the legendary colossal sea monster, was discovered in the Austin-Travis County area. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the XBB.1.5 omicron subvariant accounts for 27.6% of cases in the United States and has the highest number of immune evading mutations of any other identified variant.
Antiviral agents have proven effective against XBB variants, although the Food and Drug Administration does not believe that treatment with monoclonal antibodies such as Evushield will eliminate XBB.1.5.
“XBB.1.5 is similar to other sub-options that are not being neutralized by Evusheld, meaning we have fewer tools to prevent serious illness from COVID-19,” APH said in a statement.
Last week, World Health Organization technical lead on COVID-19, Maria Van Kerkhove, spoke to reporters at a press conference in Geneva.
“This is the most transmissible sub-variant that has been found,” Van Kerkhove said. “The reason for this is mutations in this omicron subvariant, allowing this virus to attach to the cell and replicate easily.”
As for the severity of XBB.1.5, the WHO doesn’t have data yet, but Van Kerkhove also said there is no indication that the subvariant causes more severe disease than other omicron variants.
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