Omicron XBB.1.5, also called the “Kraken” variant, is currently responsible for nearly 50 percent of new cases this month, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates. The World Health Organization (WHO) recently warned that XBB.1.5 could start a worldwide escalation in COVID-19 infections.
However, it also noted that growth advantage estimates are only from the United States, so the organization rated its confidence in their escalation assessment as “low,” while warning the variant could more easily evade protective measures.
“Along with BQ.1 variants, XBB variants are the most antibody-resistant variants to date,” the WHO said in a statement (pdf)….