Unit 11 Carnforth Business Park,
Three years on from the UK’s first national lockdown and the COVID-19 pandemic is still far from over. There are reports of a new surge of infections in India as a new strain takes hold, sparking fears of a similar rise in cases in the UK, and other markets, just as the country ushers in spring and says goodbye to what has rightly been termed a ‘monster of a flu season’.
The new XBB.1.16 COVID-19 variant, dubbed Arcturus, has already been identified as “one to watch” by the World Health Organization (WHO) – and although it’s very similar to XBB.1.5, experts say it has one additional mutation in the spike protein which is thought to make it the most contagious variant yet.
As such, while it’s the latest offshoot of the Omicron variant that caused a spike in cases in the northern hemisphere last winter, it is not thought to cause more serious disease.
Experts have said that infection with this strain is particularly different from the previous ones as they are seeing a new symptom emerge. Alongside the more common symptoms of fever, cough and fatigue, reports from India suggest that the new XBB.1.16 COVID-19 variant could be behind an uptick of conjunctivitis or pink eye, especially in children below 12 years – which is not something that we’ve seen with prior strains of the virus. Paediatric cases of COVID-19 are reported to be on the increase for the first time in six months across the country.
In India the variant has already edged out over variants that are in circulation. While cases have been steady declining across much of the rest of the world, the country is now in the grips of a sharp rise in COVID-19 cases. Official reports show that the start of April saw India mark its largest single-day jump in case numbers in more than six months – with more than 3,600 new COVID cases recorded.
According to the WHO, the Arcturus variant is one of more than 600 Omicron subvariants that are currently circulating. Levels of the variant are also rising in the U.S., Singapore, and Australia, among other countries.1
In fact, cases have already doubled in the US and the new variant is being actively monitored. Scientists are worried that XBB.1.16 will not only spread rapidly but may also be able to bypass immunity from vaccines and previous infections.
In India the BBC recently reported the country’s health ministry is already holding mock drills to check preparedness of hospitals to tackle the rapidly rising cases, while in some states mask-wearing in public has also been brought back as mandatory.
The good news is that the new variant does not appear to cause more severe disease than other omicron subvariants, according to the WHO. However, even if symptoms are mild, its increased ability to outpace other variants and resistance to antibodies from a variety of COVID variants are enough to spark worries that it will spread worldwide in the near future, according to researchers.
Rapid antigen tests remain a significantly crucial tool in slowing the spread of Covid, reducing the strain on healthcare systems, and mitigating the effects of the pandemic, despite the virus's ongoing evolution.
2San is working with customers around the world to provide guidance on rapid responses to healthcare threats. If you would like further information on how we can help, please contact our team www.2san.com.
