Omicron BQ variants dominant, XBB circulating at low stage

The omicron BQ coronavirus subvariants have risen to dominance within the U.S. as folks collect and journey for the Thanksgiving vacation, placing folks with compromised immune methods at elevated danger.

BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 are inflicting 57% of latest infections within the U.S., in accordance with information revealed by the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention on Friday. The omicron BA.5 subvariant, as soon as dominant, now makes up solely a fifth of latest Covid circumstances.

The BQ subvariants are extra immune evasive and sure proof against key antibody drugs, equivalent to Evusheld and bebtelovimab, utilized by folks with compromised immune methods, in accordance with the Nationwide Institutes of Well being. This contains organ transplant and most cancers chemotherapy sufferers.

There are at present no replacements for these medication. President Joe Biden, in an October speech, instructed folks with compromised immune methods that they need to seek the advice of with their physicians and take additional precautions this winter.

“New variants could make some present protections ineffective for the immunocompromised. Sadly, this implies you might be at a particular danger this winter,” Biden stated.

The XBB subvariant can also be circulating at a low stage proper now, inflicting about 3% of latest infections. Chief White Home medical advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci, in a briefing Tuesday, stated XBB is much more immune evasive than the BQ subvariants.

Fauci, director of the Nationwide Institute of Allergy and Infectious Illnesses, stated the brand new boosters, which have been designed in opposition to omicron BA.5, in all probability aren’t as efficient in opposition to an infection and gentle sickness from XBB. However the photographs ought to shield in opposition to extreme illness, he stated. Singapore noticed a spike in circumstances from XBB, however there wasn’t a serious surge in hospitalizations, he added.

Moderna and Pfizer stated final week that their boosters induce an immune response in opposition to BQ.1.1, which is a descendent of the BA.5 subvariant.

Fauci, within the press briefing, stated public well being officers imagine there may be sufficient immunity from vaccination, boosting and an infection to stop a repeat of the unprecedented Covid surge that occurred final winter when omicron first arrived.