Ireland’s health officials have confirmed that the new Arcturus Covid variant is spreading.
Last week, three cases of the strain, which is known as Omicron XBB.1.16, was reported by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre.
In its latest report published yesterday, it confirmed that the number of known cases in Ireland has now tripled to nine. Tests for these cases were carried out before April 12.
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The Arcturus variant, first identified on January 23 this year, has caught the attention of experts around the world.
It has since been detected in at least 34 countries, and research indicates it could be one 1.2 times more infectious than the last major sub-variant.
It has been classified as a ‘variant of interest’ by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, while The World Health Organisation's (WHO) technical lead for Covid response Maria Van Kerkhove said: "This is one to watch. We're monitoring it because it has potential changes that we need to keep a good eye out on."
India has seen the biggest surge, prompting parts of the country to reintroduce face mask rules.
In the UK, five people have died with Arcturus. Data from the UK Health and Security Agency shows at least 135 cases of Arcturus have been confirmed there, including two in the North.
Some people in India have reported suffering from “itchy” conjunctivitis, or pink eye, along with the usual symptoms of coughs and fevers.
Indian paediatrician and member of the WHO's Vaccine Safety Net programme, Vipn M. Vashishtha, said youngsters were presenting with a high fever, cold and cough, and "itchy conjunctivitis" with "sticky eyes".
Earlier this month he wrote on Twitter: “For the last two days, have started getting paediatric Covid cases once again after a gap of six months! An infantile phenotype seems emerging—treated infants w/ high fever, cold & cough, & non-purulent, itchy conjunctivitis w/ sticky eyes, not seen in earlier waves.”
However, Dr Michael Chang, a paediatric infections diseases expert at UTHealth Houston and Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital, told Yahoo News there isn't enough evidence to prove the new Covid variant is causing conjunctivitis.
According to Ireland’s HSE, the most common symptoms of Covid are fever, dry cough and fatigue. It lists conjunctivitis among the less common symptoms.
Meanwhile, Ireland has recently updated its Covid guidelines, with a number of key changes to isolation, masks and testing advice. You can read the full list of changes here.
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