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 programs at elevated threat.

BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 are inflicting 57% of latest infections within the U.S., based on knowledge 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 instances.

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 programs, based on the Nationwide Institutes of Well being. This consists of 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 programs that they need to seek the advice of with their physicians and take further precautions this winter.

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

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

Fauci mentioned the brand new boosters, which had been designed towards omicron BA.5, in all probability aren’t as efficient towards an infection and gentle sickness from XBB. However the pictures ought to defend towards extreme illness, he mentioned. Singapore noticed a spike in instances from XBB, however there wasn’t a serious surge in hospitalizations, he added.

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

Fauci, within the press briefing this week, mentioned public well being officers consider 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.