WHO is monitoring a new COVID-19 sub-variant
The new, highly contagious COVID-19 variant called “Arcturus” or XBB.1.16, also known as Omicron, has been found in India and has now spread to 29 other countries. Patients infected with this variant exhibit many familiar symptoms of previous COVID-19 variants, such as cough, fever, and tiredness, as well as a new symptom: conjunctivitis. However, experts currently consider this variant to be of interest but not a cause for concern.
How is the Arcturus variant different from other COVID-19 strains?
According to Hannah Newman, MPH, director of infection prevention at Lenox Hill Hospital, this new variant has a similar profile to the previous omicron sub-variants, but it could be more infectious and cause more disease due to an additional mutation in the spike protein.
Newman pointed out that the strain is considered a “Variant Under Monitoring” by the World Health Organization.
Dr. William Schaffner, a professor at Vanderbilt University, explained that Arcturus is similar to omicron because it’s an omicron sub-variant. Additionally, Arcturus has an extra mutation in the spike protein that makes it even more contagious than omicron.
Schaffner said that this new variant causes the same illness as previous ones and doesn’t seem to be extremely severe. However, there are some clinical features that make it unique.Omicron tends to cause high fever. However, some infected people can be asymptomatic and not have a fever.
The cause for the fever in the Arcturus variant is because of an inflammatory response in the body, which is distinctive in this variant. Especially in children, it tends to cause conjunctivitis, an inflammation of the outer eye,” said Schaffner.
How to protect yourself from the new COVID-19 variant?
The ways we’ve been staying safe from COVID-19 for the past three years also work with the new Arcturus variant.
Getting vaccinated is one of the best things we can do to prevent serious illness from COVID-19. While the effects of the new sub-variant vaccine are similar to the original COVID-19 illness, the virus has changed quite a bit, making it better at evading the original vaccines. That’s why it’s important to get boosted.
Is this new strain a cause for concern?
Right now, the new Arcturus sub-variant has experts watching closely, but they are not yet as concerned about it as they were for the initial outbreak of the virus. Still, staying cautious is a good idea.
Despite the “variant under monitoring”, experts advise against panicking. While we have seen similar variants before, it’s important to remain vigilant with safety measures, especially as restrictions are being lifted in our post-COVID world.
An expert also added that if you’re in a high-risk group – older than 65 or any age with an underlying illness, pregnant, and if you’re immunocompromised – those groups should continue to be careful, wearing masks and being very thoughtful about going to indoor events where there are a lot of people.
