A new Covid sub-variant sweeping the United States is beginning to cause concern. There have been cases of XBB 1.5, which mutated from the Omicron strain, reported in several countries including the UK.
Experts from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) say that XBB.1.5, which has been nicknamed the “Kraken” sub-variant, is not currently a variant of concern in the UK. However, cases are still known to have been recorded in Britain.
Omicron was the variant behind the sharp rise in hospital admissions in the UK last winter – and still remains highly transmissible. The World Health Organisation (WHO) said its seen no indication XBB.1.5 is more severe than other strains, but it is concerned by how transmissible it could be
