The most recent reports of COVID-19 show that subvariants of the XBB coronavirus, particularly one classified as XBB. 1. 5, fit the most prevalent forms circulating in the United States. But that’s still not the case in San Diego County or most of the West.
The most recent reading of San Diego coronavirus genetic tracking, released this week via SEARCH, a consortium of local study labs, indicates that 8% of the genetic curtains decoded from wastewater samples taken Dec. 28 are XBB strains. That’s about the same number that gave the impression in recent readings, with 5. 5% recorded on Dec. 27 and 9. 1% on Dec. 26.
Meanwhile, the genetic sequencing that XBB has already conquered the northeastern states, from New York and New Jersey to Connecticut and Rhode Island, accounting for more than 75% of all samples examined.
Dr. Seema Shah, director of the county’s epidemiology and vaccination unit, said Wednesday that there is no explanation for why to think XBB will remain more prevalent in the East.
“We’ve noticed this happening earlier when variants pop up, especially on the East Coast, and then they end up arriving here,” Shah said. “If I grew up here in 2023, I wouldn’t be surprised. “
A recent paper on the new subvariant, which is descended from the original Omicron variant that first gave the impression last winter, indicates that XBB subvariants must evade existing immune formula protections by recombining the genetic features of two earlier types of Omicron.
The World Health Organization notes that XBB, so far, has shown “no substantial differences in disease severity,” which, as has been the case with Omicron’s predecessors, the latter risk is unlikely to mean a return to higher hospitalization rates. and death experienced with the original boys circulating at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Whether COVID-19 is expanding recently in San Diego County remains an open question. The amount of virus detected in local wastewater is the fastest indicator of transmission, however, from 3 p. m. Numbers since December 21.
This most recent update revealed that the coronavirus load detected in local wastewater was stable.
Given the number of trips and holiday gatherings that have occurred around the Christmas and New Year holidays, Shah said a further increase would be surprising when the latest figures appear.
This, he added, underscores the need for more local citizens to get vaccinated against the bivalent coronavirus, which targets both the original forms of the virus and previous subvariants of Omicron.
“Evidence shows that updated reinforcements offer some protection, even in opposition to this new variant that spreads so quickly,” Shah said.
SoArray, however, Americans have ignored the call from public health officials. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says only 15. 1% of eligible people have gotten a two-pronged boost. San Diego is recently outpacing the country with a 20. 5% recovery rate.
Nearly 2 million San Diego County citizens are eligible for bivalent retirement and have not yet done so.
Shah said she was more concerned about the number of vaccines among others over 65. While county reports show that 99 percent of citizens in this age organization have completed their number one immunization series, only 32 percent of those who are 65, 41 percent in their 70s and 34 percent in their 80s have gained bivalent boosters.
“We know that most COVID deaths occur in other people over the age of 65, so we want to keep pushing for everyone to get a booster,” Shah said.
Follow us
Privacy PolicyTerms of UseSubscribe to our newsletters
Follow us