A coronavirus variant anecdotally linked to pinkeye and increased COVID-19 cases in children is spreading in Los Angeles County, but experts are not yet sounding the alarm.
The highly contagious variant was first discovered in India. Last week, the World Health Organization elevated the fast-growing Omicron sublineage XBB.1.16 as a new variant of interest, and says it is outcompeting the previously dominant XBB.1.5 in many regions of the world, though not yet in the United States.
The variant XBB.1.16 has been nicknamed “Arcturus” on social media. Here’s what we know about it.
Is this strain cause for concern?
Last week in the United States, XBB.1.16 accounted for an estimated 10% of COVID cases nationally, up from about 6% the week prior. The XBB.1.5 variant continues to be the dominant cause of new infections in the United States, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
A similar situation is playing out in L.A. County. XBB.1.16 is growing, and now accounts for just over 1% of sequenced cases in the county. The percentage is expected to continue to increase, said L.A. County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer at a press conference last week. There are at least 10 coronavirus strains circulating in L.A. County, with the dominant XBB.1.5 still accounting for 71% of cases.
Courtesy of the L.A. County Department of Public Health)
“We can…
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