COVID 19 Latest Update: The XBB subvariant of the omicron variant of Covid-19 is fast emerging as dominant in India, with nine states reporting cases and Tamil Nadu at the top, according to news agency IANS. International research organization GISIAD, which is monitoring changes in the virus, reported that there were 380 confirmed cases of XBB in India. Tamil Nadu has reported 175 cases, followed by West Bengal with 103 cases.Also Read – Canada health authorities confirm 21,810 new covid cases in one week
Covid 19 update: States that have detected the XBB variant
Other states where the XBB virus has been detected are: Also Read – A partial lockdown was imposed in Wuhan, China after fresh cases emerged. Deets inside
- Odisha (35)
- Maharashtra (21)
- Delhi (18)
- Puducherry (16)
- Karnataka (9)
- Gujarat (2)
- Rajasthan (1)
All about XBB COVID Variant
- The XBB Covid variant was first detected in Singapore in August. Since then, the XBB variant has been reported in 17 countries worldwide.
- About 55 percent of infections in Singapore stem from the XBB strain — a hybrid of Omicron’s BA.2.75 and BJ.1 subvariants, the country’s health department said.
- There is no evidence that the XBB subvariant causes more severe disease than earlier variants. The XBB strain is also known as BA.2.10.
- “Local data over the past two weeks show that XBB cases are estimated to have a 30 percent lower risk of hospitalization compared to Omicron BA.5 variant cases,” Singapore’s Ministry of Health said.
- Singapore has not seen any increase in COVID-19 deaths in the past month. XBB has allegedly shown characteristics such that it dominates all other sub-variables.
- It has been detected in many parts of the world but is rising most rapidly in Singapore – within three weeks, it now accounts for more than half of all daily cases, the country’s Health Minister Ong Yee Kung said.
Not much is known about the XBB variant. This new variant can evade the immune system because researchers in China “found that XBB can successfully eliminate protective antibodies generated by BA.5 infection”, according to a Washington Post report. Booster shots, however, remain the “best tool” to fight the disease and its mutations at this point. Also Read – Omicron BF.7 threat: Experts urge people to follow Covid protocol
