The Instituto Ricardo Jorge (INSA) in Portugal detected “a few dozen cases” of the XBB strain of the virus that causes covid-19, but only one case was classified as subtype XBB.1.5, associated with greater transmissibility, Lusa progression.
“Recombinant XBB.1.5 is a strain of the XBB strain — one of several strains of the Micron variant — which, like XBB itself, is thought to be associated with escape from the immune system,” the INSA researcher explained to Lusa. Today is John Paul Gomez.
On Wednesday, the World Health Organization (WHO) indicated that it was assessing the risks of the new XBB.1.5, which is spreading rapidly in several countries, such as the United States, where it already accounts for about 40% of Covid cases. -19.
Maria van Kerkhove, WHO technical lead in response to covid-19, went further and stated, in a video briefing, that XBB.
According to João Paulo Gomes, who coordinates the study on the genetic diversity of SARS-CoV-2 in Portugal, the XBB.1.5 subline “may be associated with greater transmissibility, given the significant increase in frequency in some regions” of the world.
However, “it would be prudent to wait for the evolution of its frequency in several countries to understand its true epidemiological impact,” said the INSA specialist.
For the researcher, it’s “too early” to understand whether this subline will have any significant impact on hospitalizations due to COVID-19, because it differs from other strains already in circulation for the Micron variant.
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