Many new infections in the US
XBB.1.5 is a subvariant of Omicron. So far, it has been detected in about 30 countries. In Germany, the number of XBB.1.5 registrations is still very small, but it is assumed that this will change. “It can be said with some prognostic certainty that the variant will also become the dominant variant for us,” said Bremen epidemiologist Hajo Zeeb.
Apparently, XBB.1.5 is spreading faster than other variants because it’s a recombination of two variants – especially in countries with low vaccination rates like the US. About half of new infections in some US states are currently due to XBB.1.5.
So far no severe course
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it is the “most contagious subvariant discovered to date”. So far, however, there are no signs that XBB.1.5 causes more serious illness than other variants of the virus. Precursors of the current XBB variant could also infect people who had already been infected with Corona.
Expert: Viruses mutate, completely normal
Virologist Alexander Kekulé still does not find the new variant of the virus worrying. “This is not worrisome to me and it’s actually a normal process for viruses to mutate,” he explained on the MDR podcast “Kekulés Corona-Kompass”. When XBB.1.5 reaches Germany, new infections – also among vaccinated people – are likely, but high mortality rates and hospital admissions are unlikely.