The new and highly contagious COVID variant dubbed XBB.1.5 roughly doubled its prevalence in the Midwest over the last week and experts say that growth will likely continue in the weeks ahead.
"We definitely expect that this virus, this variant will continue to increase in proportion," Hannah Barbian, a virologist who tracks COVID variants with Rush University Medical Center, told NBC Chicago as cases of the new subvariant have already been detected in the city."So likely what we've seen in the East Coast, will happen in Chicago as well."
"The virus needs to bind tightly to cells to be more efficient at getting in and that could help the virus be a little bit more efficient at infecting people," Andrew Pekosz, a virologist at Johns Hopkins University, toldJha echoed that finding, saying the variant"binds more tightly to the human ACE receptor," which can affect contagiousness.
While there are significant concerns surrounding the new strain, it remains an omicron subvariant, Arwady added, which offers less risk than if the variant were in an entirely different family. "It does look like the vaccine, the bivalent booster is providing continued protection against hospitalization with these variants," Pekosz told CNBC."It really emphasizes the need to get a booster particularly into vulnerable populations to provide continued protection from severe disease with these new variants."
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Here’s what you need to know about COVID’s XBB.1.5 ‘Kraken’ variantThe omicron offshoot’s ability to easily infect cells may be helping it spread rapidly in places. CovidIsntOver CovidVaccine Covid_19 XBB.1.5 Kraken pandemic
Read more »
Illinois Coronavirus Updates: XBB.1.5 Rises in Dominance Once AgainHere’s what you need to know about the coronavirus pandemic across Illinois today.
Read more »
Winter Storm Targets Rockies And Midwest | Weather.comWhile some will deal with slippery roads, this one is as notable for who will be left out of this mid-January snowstorm. - Articles from The Weather Channel | weather.com
Read more »
How ‘A Man Called Otto’ Beat the Box Office OddsWho says adults aren’t going to the movies? Well, the numbers don’t exactly lie: Movies aimed at older audiences have majorly struggled at the box office in COVID times. For the most pa…
Read more »
Women killed in Madison County surprise birthday party shooting called ‘beautiful’ and ‘ambitious’“Any time you hear this kind of news your heart hurts but it’s even worse when you know them.'
Read more »
Brice Sensabaugh: Buckeyes called players-only meeting before Rutgers gameA players-only meeting results in better play but not a loss as Ohio State takes a fourth straight Big Ten defeat, this one at Rutgers.
Read more »