What is the new XBB.1.5 stain?
This new strain that is in the spotlight at the moment, the XBB.1.5 variant, is a close relative of the XBB. It all began at the start of 2022 when the BA.2 variant spiked, and after that, two descents of this variant combined and resulted in this new and more potent version that we are fighting today.
Essentially, all of these new COVID-19 relatives are descended from the well-known omicron stain. They are all related.
The good news is that, even if they spread more easily than prior strains, the illness they produce is not as severe. The majority of cases are minor, with no concerning symptoms.
The researchers who studied the XBB.1.5 variant don’t consider it to have a more advanced mechanism that helps it escape the antibodies. In this regard, it appears to be relatively similar to its predecessors.
Yet, there is a catch. Even if it is not that good at tricking your immune system, it can bind better to the cells, so it can spread more rapidly in communities.
