Page 2 - Pathogen Evolution News Today

New omicron subvariant is taking hold in the United States, health officials say, though it does not look more severe than its predecessors.

MONDAY, Nov. 28, 2022 (HealthDay News) – U.S. health officials are tracking a new COVID variant thats a combination of two earlier Omicron subvariants.

A new coronavirus variant called XBB is marching up the CDCs watchlist and has become a variant of concern.

XBB has been on the CDC’s radar since earlier this month, when it first began doubling its case counts every 12 days. It is a combination of two Omicron subvariants (BA.2.10.1 and BA.2.75) first seen in September and is among a growing group that could render some antibody treatments ineffective.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed Friday it is now tracking a new COVID-19 variant of concern around the U.S. known as XBB, which has grown to make up an estimated 3.1% of new infections nationwide.

The XBB variant has climbed to 3.1% of new COVID cases nationwide, the CDC now estimates.