New Delhi: The newly emerged coronavirus variant ‘XBB.1.16’ is undergoing further genetic changes and its modified or sub-species virus ‘XBB.1.16.1. Already identified in India.
So far, 113 cases of this subspecies have been recorded across the country, particularly in Gujarat and Maharashtra.
Viruses of the Omicron genus ‘XBB’ are the most widely distributed viruses of this class. Over 400 new sub-species of Omicron have been identified in India in the last 5 months. 90% of these variants are ‘XBB’.
However, the ‘Insacog’ portal has not yet listed ‘XBB.1.16.1’.
Furthermore, there is no evidence yet that this subspecies causes more serious diseases. Insacog said that it is keeping a close eye on all variants of Omicron.
The latest bulletin of ‘Insacog‘ states that the ‘XBB.1.16’ variant accounts for 38.2% of all Covid infections in India till date.
Symptoms or signs are: fever, cough, chills, runny nose, headache, body aches and sometimes loose diarrhea with stomach cramps.