XBB is a recombinant of BA. 2. 10. 1 and BA. 2. 27 sub-lineages. It was first reported on August 13. Experts believe that the XBB variant may also have an impact on how well monoclonal antibody treatments work in preventing Covid-19 spread.
Analysis of the last 100 sequences indicates that 45 per cent of the cases were of XBB, followed by 20 per cent of BA.2.10, 19 per cent of BA.2.75 and 16 per cent of other variants.
BQ.1.1 made up about 29.4 per cent of circulating variants in the week ending November 26, and BQ.1 was estimated to make up 27.9 per cent, Xinhua news agency reported citing the CDC data released on Monday.
Pune district, which has recorded the highest number of Covid cases in the state during the pandemic, has also reported one case each of the BQ.1 and BA.2.3.20 sub-variants between September 24 and October 11. The BQ.1 patient had a mild infection and a history of travel to the US said the officials.
It said new COVID-19 cases rose by 17.17 per cent in the October 10-16 period when compared to last week between October 3 and 9, with the rise being noticed particularly in densely-populated Thane, Raigad and Mumbai.
On October 15, the weekly test positivity rate was 4.8% in BBMP limits, up from 4.2% the previous day, as per the health department data. The same was 3.6% on Thursday and 3.1% on Wednesday.
In Singapore, XBB is now the predominant subvariant, accounting for 54 per cent of local cases from October 3 to 9, the Channel News Asia reported. First detected in August, it has been found in more than 17 countries, including Australia, Denmark, India and Japan.
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