Preliminary Date on XBB Variant not good says WHO

By Dana Malcolm 

Staff Writer 

January 15, 2023 – Based on early data there is a possibility that COVID-19 variant XBB.1.5 could cause an increase in cases globally.  The data came from the World Health Organization on Wednesday with a warning that it was still preliminary and a more global assessment was needed before they declare with confidence that the variant was spreading faster.

“Based on its genetic characteristics and early growth rate estimates, XBB.1.5 may contribute to increases in case incidence.  To date, the overall confidence in the assessment is low as growth advantage estimates are only from one country, the United States of America,” the WHO explained.

The early assessment indicates that XBB.1.5 is the most antibody resistant variant to date matching up with XBB of which it is a recombinant.  Both full booster compliments and immunity from previous infection provided little resistance to XBB.1.5 infection an assessment in which the WHO says it has moderate confidence. The organization did not comment on the severity of illness caused by the variant citing a lack of information.

The variant is spreading widely in the United States with more than 80 percent of the reported cases coming from that country.  However XBB.1.5 has already been recorded in 38 countries between October 22nd 2022 to January 11th 2023 and 5,288 sequences of the variant have been reported.