Watch out for New COVID Variant in 2023 as Cases Surge, Expert Warns

An expert shared that a new COVID variant could be expected this year after a surge of U.S. cases was observed.

Professor of genetic epidemiology at King's College London, Tim Spector, highlighted an Omicron variant after a scientist saw cases in the U.S. double in a week.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released data Friday stating that more than 40 percent of COVID cases in the U.S. right now are caused by the XBB.1.5 variant, while in the northeast - Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont, there is already 75.3 percent of confirmed cases that were reported to be XBB.1.5.

There is also 72.2 percent of cases in New York and New Jersey during the last week of the year.

Dr. Michael Osterholm, an infectious disease expert at the University of Minnesota, described XBB as the "worst variant" the world is facing currently, Fox News reported.

New COVID variant - XBB.1.5

XBB.1.5 is said to be the mutated version of Omicron XBB, which was first detected in August of last year in India.

According to the World Health Organization, it has emerged and is now present in at least 70 countries, which caused the surge of infection in some parts of Asia like India and Singapore last October.

Studies showed that the strain is capable of evading antibodies even from previous COVID infections or vaccinations.

U.S. scientist Eric Topol said they had not seen any other variant with this rapid growth since the original Omicron appeared a year ago, concluding that XBB.1.5 is now "out-competing" all other variants.

Prof. Spector, the founder of the COVID Zoe app, took to Twitter and responded to what Topol stated. He described the new variant as the next variant "to watch out for in 2023."

John Moore, professor of microbiology and immunology at Weill Cornell Medical College, pointed out that just like the previous two winters, large spikes in infections were seen at their peak in mid-January. He expects it to be the same this year. However, he is relieved to announce that there is a lack of a significant increase in death rates.

Wake-up call

A virologist at Warwick University, Professor Lawrence Young, emphasized that the new strain is a "wake-up call" and could worsen the NHS crisis.

"This is a wake-up call - a sharp reminder that we can't be complacent about COVID. The threat of XBB.1.5 and other COVID variants further exacerbating the current NHS crisis stresses the need for us to remain vigilant," Young stressed, as quoted by Sky News.

Dr. Meera Chand, director of clinical and emerging infection at The U.K. Health Security Agency (UKHSA), also stated how vaccination remains the world's best defense against COVID-19 waves. Thus, she encouraged people to get all the doses as soon as they become eligible.