Health experts on Wednesday expressed concern about the rapid growth of the new Omicron XBB.1.5 subline, advising the public to stay informed but not alarmed as they work to learn more about the coronavirus strain.
During December, the percentage of new Covid-19 infections in the United States caused by XBB.1.5 increased from 4% to 41%.
“It’s a staggering increase,” Ashish Jha, White House COVID-19 response coordinator, wrote in a Twitter post.
Experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) shared similar thoughts on Wednesday.
“We are concerned about its growth advantage,” said Maria Van Kerkhove, an epidemiologist who is the WHO technical lead on Covid-19.
Van Kerkhove noted that XBB.1.5, which was first detected in the United States, has spread to at least 29 countries and “is the most transmissible form of Omicron to date.”
“We expect more waves of infection around the world, but this need not translate into more waves of death because our countermeasures continue to work,” she said.
Basic care helps prevent Covid-19
Source: CNN Brasil
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