How contagious is COVID-19 variant XBB.1.16, and how is it different from previous strains?

The new COVID variant XBB.1.16, also known as Arcturus, is a subvariant of the Omicron strain under WHO surveillance. This variant is currently spreading globally, especially in India.

What are the symptoms of the XBB.1.16 COVID variant?

Symptoms of this variant include high fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, and loss of smell. Additionally, there have been increased reports of conjunctivitis, causing patients to experience red eyes, eye irritation, and excessive discharge, which differs from previous variants.

Is the XBB.1.16 variant more contagious than the original Omicron?

The XBB.1.16 variant has three spike protein mutations: E180V, K478R, and S486P, allowing it to bind human cells more effectively than previous variants. It is estimated to spread 1.5 to 2 times more easily than the original Omicron strain.

Who are at high risk of severe symptoms?

The high-risk group, known as “608,” includes people aged 60 and above, individuals with any of seven chronic diseases (chronic respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney failure, stroke, obesity, cancer, diabetes), pregnant women over 12 weeks, and those unvaccinated or never infected before. These groups are at higher risk of infection and severe illness.

Therefore, patients in these risk groups should seek immediate medical care and consider antiviral treatment if testing positive.