The United States is facing a new strain of Covid-19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The strain, known as XBB.1.5, is a subvariant of the original Omicron strain and is estimated to be responsible for 40% of confirmed cases in the U.S., up from 20% a week ago.
The CDC has projected that the XBB.1.5 strain has more than doubled its share of the Covid-19 pie each week for the last four, rising from about 4% to 41% of new infections. This has caused concern about a potential wave of Covid cases following the busy holiday travel season.
Dr. Barbara Mahon, director of CDC’s Coronavirus and Other Respiratory Viruses Division, has stated that there is no indication that the XBB.1.5 strain causes more severe illness than any other omicron virus.
The XBB.1.5 strain has been duking it out with other Omicron descendants for dominance of Covid-19 transmission in the United States. While the BQs – BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 – have taken a slight lead, the result has been a gradual rise in cases and hospitalizations that never seemed to reach the peaks of this summer’s BA.5 wave and was certainly nothing like the tsunami of illness caused by the original Omicron strain a year ago.
It is unclear what the implications of the XBB.1.5 strain will be for the U.S., but it is important to remain vigilant and take all necessary precautions to prevent the spread of the virus.
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