The Latest Breaking News from Jesse Bloom

Dubbed "Pirola" by variant trackers, the strain is different enough from other Omicron to potentially warrant a Greek letter from the WHO, experts say.

Scientists lean towards a natural spillover from animals, but China’s opacity means a lab leak can’t be ruled out.

The missing evidence in the COVID origins debate

A new COVID-19 variant called XBB.1.5 is driving a new wave of infections. But susceptibility to it is not, as some contend, being fueled by vaccines. Still, the surges of ever more immune-evasive variants raise legitimate questions about whether vaccines and boosters are still protecting us from infection, or should…