Covid-19: the “most transmissible subvariant” so far detected in Portugal
O Ricardo Jorge Institute (INSA) detected in Portugal “a few dozen cases” of the XBB lineage of the virus that causes covid-19, but only one was classified as being of the XBB.1.5 lineage, associated with greater transmissibility.
“The recombinant XBB.1.5 is a strain of the XBB lineage – one of the multiple lineages of the Ómicron variant -, which, like XBB itself, is thought to be associated with escape from the immune system”, the INSA researcher explained to Lusa today Joao Paulo Gomes.
On Wednesday, the The World Health Organization (WHO) has indicated that it is assessing the risk of the new XBB.1.5that it is spreading rapidly in several countries, such as the United States, where it already represents about 40% of cases of covid-19.
“Most transmissible subvariant detected so far”
WHO technical leader in the response to covid-19, Maria Van Kerkhove, went further and stated, in the press conference, that XBB.1.5 “is the most transmissible subvariant detected so far”.
According to João Paulo Gomes, who coordinates the study on the genetic diversity of SARS-CoV-2 in Portugal, the subline XBB.1.5 “could be associated with greater transmissibility, given its significant increase in frequency in some regions” of the world.
However, “it will be prudent to wait for its frequency evolution in several countries to understand its real epidemiological impact”said the INSA specialist.
For the researcher, “it’s still early” to understand whether this underlining will have any significant impact on hospitalizations due to covid-19 for being different from the other strains already in circulation of the Ómicron variant.
INSA monitors the spread in Portugal
INSA has been coordinating, since April 2020, the study to monitor the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in Portugal, through the analysis of the genome of this pandemic virus, with the collaboration of a network of hospitals and laboratories at national level.
XBB.1.5 is a two-strain recombinant from BA.2 and was originally identified in October 2022, having already been detected in 29 countries.
Covid-19 is an infectious respiratory disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, a type of virus detected three years ago in China and which has spread rapidly around the world, with several variants and subvariants, some more contagious than others.
The disease has been an international public health emergency since January 30, 2020 and a pandemic since March 11, 2020.