Covid-19: A new variant is straining health systems, here's everything we know

XBB.1.5 is a new strain of the coronavirus omicron variant and it is alreadybelieved to be the cause of 25% of new cases in the UK and 40% of cases in the US.

Appearing to spread fast, no indication yet of increased severity

The XBB.1.5 Omicron strainis already responsible for 40% of new covid cases in the US, and the Centers for Disease Control and Protection (CDC) projects that this figure is up 20% from last week, NBC News reports.

It is currently unclear from where the variant has come to the US, however, the CDC says this new strain is appearing to spread fast, yet there are no indications that it leads to a more severe illness compared to other forms of the virus.

Experts are worried that this new variant could bypass the antibodies that people have built up from past infections and from the covid vaccines.

Nevertheless, Dr. Barbara Mahon, director of CDC’s Coronavirus and Other Respiratory Viruses Division, says it is important to get the booster jab and protect oneself from this variant:

We aren’t in 2020, but people still do need to take this seriously and protect themselves.

More pressure on the NHS in the UK

Meanwhile, in the UK, doctors are warning that the new XBB.1.5 Omicron strain could drive more pressure on the National Health Service (NHS), BristolPost reports.

The NHS is reportedly already under great stress due to winter illnesses including the seasonal flu and a Group A streptococcal outbreak.

Professor Lawrence Young, a virologist at Warwick University, believes XBB.1.5 should be seen as a 'wakeup call' and could make the NHS crisis much more difficult:

The XBB.1.5 variant is highly infectious and is driving increased hospital admissions in New York, particularly among the elderly. Waning immunity, more indoor mixing because of the cold weather and lack of other mitigations, such as wearing facemasks, are also contributing to this surge of infection in the US.

Although in the UK many people over 50 have had boosters shots with a mix of vaccines, Young is unsure about how the new strain will affect the country:

We don't know how this variant is going to behave in the UK in a population that has been previously exposed to other Omicron variants and where many of the over 50s have had booster shots with a bivalent vaccine.

Young says that we cannot neglect Covid-19, and need to remain vigilant:

A sharp reminder that we can't be complacent about Covid. The threat of XBB.1.5 and other Covid variants further exacerbating the current NHS crisis stresses the need for us to remain vigilant.

According to Young, it is important to promote various mitigation measures such as booster vaccines for people under 50s and other forms of protection.

We need to continue to monitor levels of infection with different variants in the UK, encourage those who are eligible to get their boosters shots — why not extend this to the under 50s? — and promote the value of other mitigation measures.

Sources used:

-NBC News: ‘CDC reports a new strain of omicron taking over in the U.S.’

-BristolPost: ‘New Covid variant XBB.1.5 could pile more pressure on NHS, doctors warn’