A new Covid-19 variant known as "the Kraken" may become a dominant strain in the UK, according to officials.
Despite it's striking nickname, experts have highlighted that the XBB. 1.5 "sub lineage" of the Omicron variant is not any more dangerous than the Omicron variant, which is already less lethal than the original strain of Covid-19. However, the Kraken does have a "growth advantage" which could become dominant in the UK, experts added.
Currently, the dominant variant in the UK is another Omicron sub lineage - BQ.1. A new technical briefing from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) states that XBB.1.5 “remains at very low prevalence in the UK, so estimates of growth are highly uncertain”.
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But it adds: “CH.1.1 and XBB.1.5 are currently the variants most likely to take over from BQ.1 as the next dominant variant in the UK, unless further novel variants arise. Neither have been designated as variants of concern by UKHSA.”
Dr Meera Chand, director of clinical and emerging infections at the UKHSA said: “Through our genomic surveillance we continue to see evolution of variants in the Omicron family. UKHSA is constantly monitoring the situation and working to understand the implications for public health.
“Vaccination remains our best defence against future Covid-19 waves, so it is still as important as ever that people come forward and take up all the doses for which they are eligible as soon as possible.”
Is XBB. 1.5 more lethal or contagious?
The emerging variant came about as a result of evolving from another strain - XBB. Because of this, it had to mutate to beat the body's immune systems, however, this mutation reduced its ability to infect a person.
The World Health Organization adds that XBB. 1.5 has a "growth advantage" over other sub-variants that are prominent. It also states that there is no reason to yet believe that it is any more dangerous than previous Omicron variants.
Which areas is XBB. 1.5 spreading?
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) believes that around 28 per cent of Covid cases in the US in the first week of January were a result of XBB. 1.5. Meanwhile, Covid hospital admissions in the US have increased, leading to the government renewing its free testing initiative.
Will XBB. 1.5 spread throughout the UK?
Throughout 2022, the UK saw five Omicton waves with more to be expected in 2023. However, data on the spread of XBB. 1.5 in the UK has not yet been developed.
But, the UKHSA is expected to release a report on variants spreading in the UK sometime next week.
Is there any reason to be worried?
Professor Wendy Barclay from Imperial College said she was not particularly concerned about the spread of XBB. 1.5 throughout the British population. She stated that there was "no indication" the sub-lineage would "break through" the defences provided by vaccines.
Despite this, she said she was worried about the possible effects of the virus on vulnerable people such as the immunocompromised and those who get less benefit from Covid jabs.
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