New Omicron Variant Sweeping The U.S.

CNBC: Highly immune evasive omicron XBB.1.5 variant is quickly becoming dominant in U.S. as it doubles weekly

* The Covid omicron XBB.1.5 variant has nearly doubled in prevalence over the past week and now represents about 41% of new cases in the U.S., according to CDC data.

* XBB.1.5 is highly immune evasive and appears to bind better to cells than other members of the XBB omicron subvariant family.

* Scientists at Columbia University have warned that the rise of subvariants such as the XBB family could “result in a surge of breakthrough infections as well as re-infections.”

The Covid omicron XBB.1.5 variant is rapidly becoming dominant in the U.S. because it is highly immune evasive and appears more effective at binding to cells than related subvariants, scientists say.

XBB.1.5 now represents about 41% of new cases nationwide in the U.S., nearly doubling in prevalence over the past week, according to the data published Friday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The subvariant more than doubled as a share of cases every week through Dec. 24. In the past week, it nearly doubled from 21.7% prevalence.

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New Omicron Variant Sweeping The U.S.

Over 40% of U.S. COVID cases caused by Omicron subvariant XBB.1.5 - CDC -- Reuters

COVID variant XBB.1.5 now accounts for 40 percent of cases in the US: CDC -- The Hill

COVID-19 hospitalizations rise as new variant emerges -- UPI

COVID-19 XBB variant: What to know -- FOX News

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