Is XBB.1.5 frequent?
Worldwide, XBB.15 remains to be pretty uncommon. As of early January, it accounted for lower than 1 % of coronaviruses being sequenced. For now, it’s commonest in sure sizzling spots, just like the northeastern United States, the place it makes up about three-quarters of latest circumstances.
Is XBB.1.5 a trigger for severe concern?
Sure. Regardless that it’s nonetheless uncommon, it’s multiplying a lot quicker than different subvariants of Omicron. Nonetheless, many specialists doubt it’ll produce a record-breaking wave of infections the way in which Omicron did in early 2021.
