The first cases of the new Arcturus Covid variant has been found in Ireland amid growing concern about its rapid spread.
Irish health officials have confirmed three cases of the strain, which is known as Omicron XBB.1.16. The latest data from Ireland’s Health Protection Surveillance Centre shows that the cases were reported before April 8, 2023.
The Arcturus Covid variant, which was first identified on January 23 this year, has caught the attention of experts around the world. So far, it has been detected in at least 28 countries. Arcturus has been classified as a ‘variant of interest’ by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).
