Another omicron subvariant was determined to have spread to more countries in the week through Oct. 16 from the previous week, and it may be even more resistant to antibodies than other versions of the virus, according to the World Health Organization.
In its latest weekly epidemiological update, the agency said XBB, a BA.2.10.1 and BA.2.75 recombinant with 14 additional mutations in the BA.2 spike protein, was reported in 26 countries. “Available preliminary laboratory-based evidence suggests that XBB is the most antibody-evasive SARS-CoV-2 variant identified to date,” said the agency, adding that for now, it does not appear to create more severe illness than other variants.
The WHO will continue to track XBB and other subvariants to determine whether they are more infectious or more likely to make people very sick than previous variants. Another omicron subvariant was determined to have spread to more countries in the week through Oct. 16 from the previous week, and it may be even more resistant to antibodies than other versions of the virus, according to the World Health Organization.
In its latest weekly epidemiological update, the agency said XBB, a BA.2.10.1 and BA.2.75 recombinant with 14 additional mutations in the BA.2 spike protein, was reported in 26 countries. “Available preliminary laboratory-based evidence suggests that XBB is the most antibody-evasive SARS-CoV-2 variant identified to date,” said the agency, adding that for now, it does not appear to create more severe illness than other variants.
The WHO will continue to track XBB and other subvariants to determine whether they are more infectious or more likely to make people very sick than previous variants. U.S. known cases of COVID, meanwhile, are continuing to ease and now stand at their lowest level since mid-April, although the true tally is likely higher given how many people overall are testing at home, where data are not being collected.
The daily average for new cases stood at 37,999 on Wednesday, according to a New York Times tracker, down 12% from two weeks ago. The daily average for hospitalizations was down 2% to 26.629, while the daily average for deaths was down 6% to 366. (SOURCE)
