Covid-19: ‘Most infectious variant’ XBB ever surfaced in Hong Kong, more than 70 cases in India too

In many parts of the world including China, there is news of increasing cases of corona infection once again. China and many countries of Europe have been seeing an increase in infections for the past few weeks, this has raised the concern of scientists. Lockdown-like situations are also being created in some parts due to increased infection in Shanghai city of China, while scientists in European countries have feared another wave. The spurt once again seen in cases of stable corona infection for a few months is worrying. Meanwhile, a team of scientists has detected a new variant in Hong Kong, which is being seen as a global risk.

According to media reports from South China, a sub-variant of Kovid-19 XBB has been observed in Hong Kong, which in preliminary studies has been found to increase infection by easily dodging immunity created by the vaccine. Experts say that due to this variant during winter, there is a possibility of worsening of the situation in many countries, about which everyone will have to take special precautions.

This variant is believed to be responsible for more than half of the daily infection cases in Singapore these days. Its cases have also been reported in some states of India. In such a situation, questions are being raised that in the coming months, there may be a surge in cases of infection in India once again? Let us know about this new corona variant in further detail.

Cases of XBB Variant in India

According to recent media reports, cases of infection due to XBB variant have been reported in four states of the country namely Maharashtra, Odisha, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu. Maharashtra has reported five cases of this variant on Thursday (October 13). In about two weeks, 33 cases of XBB infection have been confirmed in Odisha, 17 in West Bengal and 16 in Tamil Nadu due to this variant.

Earlier, apart from Hong Kong, infection due to this variant has also been seen in the United States, Australia, Bangladesh, Denmark and Japan. Let us know how dangerous it can be?

Know about the XBB variant

The researchers found in preliminary research that the XBB variant resulted from a recombination between Omicron’s two variants BA.2.75 and BA.2.10. At present, it has been found to be more infectious than all the corona variants so far.

Dr Paul Tambiah, President of the Asia Pacific Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infection, said in a report that the XBB variant, a new form of corona, has been seen to emerge rapidly even in countries with high vaccination rates. This makes it clear that it can easily cause infection in people by dodging the immunity built up in the body by vaccination. Although we do not have genomic data for related cases, preliminary analysis has found that it is more contagious than other variants and can cause infection in a large number of people.