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XBB, the maximum maximum probably the most elusive COVID variant to date, is known in 26 countries, the World Health Organization reported Wednesday.
The organization did not call the countries in which it discovered XBB. Levels of the variant have risen in Singapore this month, despite a largely vaccinated and strengthened population, as well as in Bangladesh. But cases are also emerging in other countries. , adding Canada, England and India, according to data from GISAID, a foreign studies organization that tracks changes in COVID and the flu virus.
GISAID data shows the concentration of XBB or derived variants over the past 30 days in Singapore, followed by India, Bangladesh, the United States, Australia and Denmark.
XBB is a blend of two other strains of Omicron. He is competing with his compatriot Omicron spawn BQ. 1. 1 for the name of the maximum immunoevasive variant to date, surpassing that of the non-unusual ancestor BA. 5, which ruled around the world this summer. But the WHO report warned that XBB is in fact the most elusive variant of antibodies to date, bringing “laboratory evidence. “
Although XBB also appears to spread more successfully than other variants of Omicron, it is still known to cause more severe disease than other strains, the report adds.
XBB has been known in the United States so far. But the consequences (XBB. 1, XBB. 2 and XBB. 3) have been, according to GISAID data.
XBB. 1 was first detected in the U. S. on Sept. 15 and accounted for 0. 26 percent of cases genetically sequenced in the past 15 days, Raj Rajnarayanan, assistant dean of studies and associate professor on the campus of the New York Institute of Technology in Jonesboro, Ark. he told Fortune on Monday, bringing data from GISAID. La majority of XBB strains had been discovered in New York state.
Worldwide, nearly 3 times as many XBB. 1 instances have been known as XBB instances, the WHO said this week.
Lately it is not known what advantages, if any, XBB descendants such as XBB. 1 might have over its main variant. Compared to XBB, XBB. 1 shows only a “small change” in the spike protein, which the virus uses to infect cells. The effect of the alteration is unknown, Rajnarayanan said.
XBB, in addition to its competitor BQ. 1. 1, evades antibody immunity, making monoclonal antibody treatments used in other high-risk COVID patients unnecessary. , the newest monoclonal antibody effective on all variants, as well as Evusheld, which works on some. And either can lead to more severe symptoms, the authors wrote.
XBB’s ability to evade immunity is “extreme,” reaching the point of immune evasion shown through SARS, a coronavirus that inflamed thousands and caused nearly 800 deaths in the early 2000s, the authors added.
The scientists, along with Dr. Anthony Fauci, America’s most sensible infectious disease expert, are working on the U. S. U. S. officials expect a wave of fall and winter cases in the U. S. The U. S. economy begins to rise this month and peaks in January. It’s still unclear what variant of COVID may drive this wave, if any. . But XBB and BQ. 1 are the contenders, experts say.
This tale originally appeared in Fortune. com
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