Omicron subvariant XBB.1.16, the strain was first identified in January and has been monitored by the World Health Organisation (WHO) since 22 March, which upgraded it to a “variant of interest” in mid-April.

Cases of Omicron variant XBB are mounting in China, forming a new wave expected to crest around 65 million cases weekly by the end of June.

The latest subvariant that causes COVID-19 is spreading rapidly, but the World Health Organization considers it to be no more dangerous than the other variations of the novel coronavirus now in circulation.

TAKE HOME MESSAGE

• A new Omicron subvariant XBB.1.16 of the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19 known as Arcturus has been found in 31 countries.
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• Research indicates Arcturus could be 1.2 times more infectious than the last major sub-variant and can cause serious illness, but they don’t consider it to be any more dangerous that the current variants now in circulation.
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• According to the World Health Organization’s XBB and XBB.1 have been reported by 35 countries with 1,453 genomic sequences, including Singapore, India, Bangladesh, Libya, Iran, Kuwait, Qatar, Australia, UK and the USA.
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• Omicron sub-variant of coronavirus, "XBB', has been detected in Dhaka and Chattogram, said Dr Adnan Mannan, professor of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Chattogram. The International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b) has also detected the sub-variant.
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• Public health consultants say the best way to protect is to get vaccinated, wear a face mask in crowded areas, and practice physical distancing when necessary.

What to know about the Arcturus COVID variant

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that slightly less than 10% of new COVID-19 cases in the United States involve the XBB 1.16 strain, with the vast majority of cases represented by the XBB 1.5 Omicron subvariant.

“The global risk assessment for XBB.1.16 is low as compared to XBB.1.5 and the other currently circulating variants,” according to the WHO, which noted that “no changes in severity have been reported in countries where XBB.1.16 is reported to be circulating.”

Arcturus “appears to have a competitive advantage to the current predominant variant in the globe, XBB.1.5. However, it is unlikely to be a major cause for concern since it does not appear to result in more severe illness than XBB.1.5.”

WHO notes that the antiviral monoclonal antibody sotrovimab exhibits antiviral activity against XBB.1.16, similar to other XBB subvariants.

The symptoms of Arcturus

 “Arcturus causes a high fever and, particularly in children, conjunctivitis (pink eye).”

It found mild symptoms similar to those from earlier omicron variants, with few hospitalizations and deaths.

Like the currently dominant XBB 1.5 variant of COVID-19, Arcturus retains the ability to cause severe illness. Several deaths in the United Kingdom have been attributed to the XBB 1.16 subvariant.

According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, pink eye (medically known as conjunctivitis) is suspected to be a symptom of the arcturus subvariant, particularly among children. If children have itchy, red eyes the AAO advises parents shouldn’t be alarmed, as it’s a common eye condition at any age and associated with allergy. However, Covid testing should be done to rule the virus out. 

How to protect against the new COVID-19 strain

There are not yet any vaccines that specifically target XBB.1, XBB 1.5, and XBB 1.16.

In the meantime, the Omicron-specific booster approved in fall 2022 “should provide good protection, especially against the most severe disease”.

By washing hands, wearing masks, maintaining distances, getting vaccines/booster shots, and staying home from work or school even if have minor symptoms like sniffles will only curb the spread of future variants and protect us all”.

“Everyone should continue to be vigilant for new circulating strains and stay up to date with their COVID-19 boosters, especially if they have not had a vaccine dose or natural infection in the last 3 to 4 months,” added Hutton. “FDA and CDC announced those 65 and over or immunocompromised should consider getting a bivalent COVID-19 booster.”