Here's what you need to know about the aggressive ‘escape variant’ that's ripped through at least 29 countries
09 January 2023 - 05:00A new Covid-19 variant that was first detected in 2022 has quickly become the dominant strain in the US — and picked up a creepy moniker along the way. Nicknamed the “kraken” variant by some, it surged through the US and has now been identified in at least 28 other countries, according to the World Health Organization .
While it has been reported in only 29 countries, health authorities are warning it could be much more widespread and silently proliferating thanks to a drop-off in testing. In other countries, the proportion of infections caused by XBB.1.5 has remained lower, though the picture may rapidly change. Estimates from the Wellcome Sanger Institute found that the variant made up about 4% of Covid-19 infections in England by mid-December, while Canada has found a handful of such cases.
It’s unclear if the US experience with XBB.1.5 will extend to other countries. America, unlike many other developed nations, suffers from low vaccination rates. Only 15% of the population aged five and above has received an updated bivalent booster dose. The rate is slightly better among the vulnerable elderly population, including those aged 65 and above, with fewer than four in 10 receiving the shot.
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