COVID-19 Subvariant Xbb.1.16 Rapidly Spreading Across the World, Now Listed as ‘Variant of Interest'

The World Health Organization (WHO) has designated the new COVID-19 subvariant XBB.1.16 as a "variant of interest" due to its rapid spread across multiple countries.

This subvariant is a descendant of the recombinant XBB, which combines two BA.2 sublineages and has been dubbed "Arcturus" on social media, after the brightest star in the northern celestial hemisphere. Although XBB.1.16 is currently prevalent in India and causes mostly mild illnesses, it has been detected in 32 other countries, including the United States.

COVID-19 Subvariant XBB.1.16 Rapidly Spreading Across the World, Now Listed as 'Variant of Interest' Pixabay/geralt

Increasing Cases of XBB.1.16

The XBB.1.16 virus, unofficially called "Arcturus," has seen a significant increase in its spread since its appearance in India in January. As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it constitutes 4.2% of worldwide cases and 9.6% of cases in the US. However, there has been no official watchlist designation by the CDC.

Meanwhile, the WHO has highlighted its "immune escape characteristics," indicating that it will likely become more prevalent in the future, but it has not shown any increase in severity.

There have been reports of pinkeye symptoms caused by Arcturus, particularly in children. While COVID metrics have declined, the WHO cautions that overall numbers do not provide an accurate picture of the current state of the pandemic.

WHO's report said there had been a significant increase in cases and mortality rates in Southeast Asia, Eastern Mediterranean regions, and different countries elsewhere.

The WHO Southeast Asia said that cases in the region are up by 654%, while a 96% increase in the Eastern Mediterranean. More so, deaths are increasing in these regions, particularly in India, Nepal, Korea, Iran, Egypt, Pakistan, and many other countries.

Across the world, including in the US, the new COVID-19 subvariant XBB.1.16 is said to be outcompeting the previously dominant subvariant XBB.1.5 that has been the common strain in the country since the beginning of the year.

More About XBB.1.16

The COVID-19 subvariant XBB.1.16, also known as Arcturus, has been reported in 31 countries and is thought to have the potential to contribute to a rise in case incidence globally, though there are no indications it will result in increased severity of cases. The WHO stated it plans to publish a risk assessment report in the near future.

Reports emerging suggest that Arcturus is linked to conjunctivitis among children and adolescents, US News reported. However, the WHO noted that pink eye is already on the list of symptoms associated with COVID-19. An earlier study found that over 22% of more than 200 children hospitalized with COVID-19 in Wuhan, China reported eye problems, including conjunctivitis.

Despite the news of the Arcturus variant, experts believe the US is unlikely to experience another large surge of COVID-19 cases. This is due to the population's high level of protection from previous COVID-19 infections or vaccinations.

The cycles of coronavirus in the US and India are also unsynchronized, meaning any increase in cases in one country doesn't necessarily lead to a surge in another.