Omicron Subvariant XBB.1.5 Accounts For Nearly 90% New Covid Cases In US

According to the most recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates, the highly transmissible Omicron subvariant XBB.1.5 now accounts for nearly 90% of all Covid-19 cases reported in the United States (CDC).

According to Xinhua, the prevalence of XBB.1.5 has been increasing since late last year, and it is estimated to account for 89.2 percent of new Covid-19 cases in the country this week, up from 85.4 percent last week and 79.7 percent two weeks ago.

BQ.1.1 is the second most common strain, accounting for 6.7%.

The CDC began tracking XBB.1.5 in November of last year, when it accounted for less than 1% of all cases nationwide.

Since then, the strain has spread rapidly throughout the US.

According to preliminary research, XBB.1.5 has a couple of concerning mutations that indicate it is even more contagious than other strains, possibly the most transmissible so far.

While XBB.1.5 is more easily spread, scientists believe it does not cause more severe disease.

Source:OCN