XBB.1.16 has
already been identified in at least 22 countries, including the United States,
where it has been reported in at least 18 states. The subvariant has been
classified as "one to watch" by the WHO, according to Maria Van
Kerkhove, PhD, COVID-19 technical lead at WHO.
Dr. Van Kerkhove
stated in a press conference on March 29 that the WHO is actively monitoring
XBB.1.16 due to its potential changes that require careful observation. She
added that the subvariant is similar in profile to XBB.1.5, which is currently
responsible for almost 80 percent of COVID-19 cases in the United States.
According to the
Journal of Urgent Care Medicine, case counts of XBB.1.16 have nearly doubled in
the U.S. over the past week, accounting for an estimated 7.2 percent of current
cases, with the number possibly as high as 11.3 percent, according to the
latest estimates from the CDC. The subvariant has been described as highly
communicable by Paul Pottinger, MD, a professor in the division of allergy and
infectious diseases at UW Medicine in Seattle.
XBB.1.16 has one
additional mutation in the spike protein, which in lab studies shows increased
infectivity, as well as potential increased pathogenicity. These factors have
raised concerns about the subvariant's ability to produce disease and its
potential to spread quickly.
The WHO has called
for increased vigilance and precautionary measures to be taken in the face of
this new subvariant. As the world continues to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, it
is important to remain vigilant and stay informed about the latest developments
in the fight against this deadly virus.
Why Are Health Officials Concerned About XBB.1.1.6?
According to Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, Technical Lead on COVID-19 at the World Health Organization, the unpredictable nature of the virus means that new variants are a constant threat.
One of the things we are very concerned about is the potential for the virus to change, to become not only more transmissible but more severe, she said at a recent press conference.
While vaccination
and past infection have helped to increase population-level immunity around the
world, there is still a risk that new variants could emerge that are resistant
to current treatments and vaccines.
This is why health
officials are particularly worried about the XBB.1.1.6 subvariant, which has
been linked to a surge in COVID-19 cases in India. The country reported 6,000
new cases on Sunday, April 9, and hospitals are conducting mock drills to
prepare for a potential influx of patients.
Despite the
relatively low number of cases compared to previous surges, deaths and
hospitalizations due to the XBB.1.1.6 subvariant are on the rise in India.
Pediatrician Vipin Vashishtha has warned that the severity of cases is
increasing in Delhi, with more patients requiring hospitalization and oxygen
support.
While it is too
early to say whether the XBB.1.1.6 subvariant will become a major global
threat, health officials are urging people to remain vigilant and continue
following public health guidelines. By doing so, we can help to slow the spread
of the virus and prevent the emergence of new, more dangerous variants in the
future.
Testing, Antivirals, and Vaccination Continue to Play an Important Role in Preventing COVID-19 Transmission
As the world
continues to navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic, experts have stressed the
importance of testing, antivirals, and vaccination to prevent transmission of
the virus. Recent reports have emerged about a new subvariant of the virus, but
healthcare professionals remain optimistic that existing prevention measures
can still be effective.
According to World
Health Organization (WHO) epidemiologist Maria Van Kerkhove, people over the
age of 60 and those with underlying health conditions are still at the highest
risk for severe COVID-19. As such, healthcare systems need to focus on
administering antivirals to those who need them and vaccinating the most
at-risk individuals.
Dr. Scott
Pottinger, an infectious disease specialist at the University of Washington
Medical Center, emphasizes the importance of testing for those who believe they
may have been infected with the virus. COVID-19 testing still detects this new
subvariant, so early detection and isolation can help prevent transmission.
For those who are
not yet fully vaccinated and boosted, the emergence of this new subvariant is
another reminder of the importance of vaccination. Pottinger remains optimistic
about the potential severity of the new subvariant, stating that "we do
not know whether this variant may be more or less virulent than other
strains." However, he encourages those with chronic medical issues or
compromised immune systems to take extra precautions to protect themselves.
Pottinger also
notes that antivirals like Paxlovid remain effective in reducing the duration
of viral shedding for this new subvariant, making them beneficial for high-risk
patients.
As the COVID-19
pandemic continues, it is clear that testing, antivirals, and vaccination will
remain critical tools in preventing transmission and reducing the severity of
illness. By remaining vigilant and taking proactive measures, we can work
towards a healthier and safer future for all.
