Omicron XBB: WHO Chief Scientist Soumya Swaminathan said – Corona's sub-variant XBB is more dangerous

Expressing concern over the increasing case of new variants of corona infection in India, Soumya Swaminathan, Chief Scientist of the World Health Organization said on Friday that there are more than 300 variants of COVID-19 and its new variant XBB is a matter of concern. He stressed that the new variant XBB of Covid is more dangerous.

Addressing a press conference in Pune, he said, “There are more than 300 sub-variants of Omicron. I think it's worrying to have an XBB variant at the moment. This virus is Recombinant Virus. Although such viruses have been seen before. This virus is very immune and can reduce the antibodies present in the human body, due to which we may see another wave of infection in some countries of the world.

Emphasizing the importance of tracking other types of XBB, Swaminathan said, “We are also looking at derivatives of BA.5 and BA.1, which are more infectious as well as more lethal. This virus starts spreading very fast as it develops. He said there is currently no data to suggest to any country that its sub variant is clinically more severe. However, in some countries this virus is spreading very fast.

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