ORLANDO, Fla. – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is tracking a new COVID-19 subvariant that is spreading rapidly across the country.
XBB 1.5 is a sub-variant of the omicron variant. The CDC said it now accounts for about 40% of U.S. COVID-19 cases, according to estimates as of Dec. 31 Agency data tracker.
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dr Barbara Mahon, director of the CDC’s proposed division for coronavirus and other respiratory viruses, said CBS News that the agency expects the tribe to dominate the Northeast as it spreads across the country.
It is not known exactly where the subvariant came from, other than that it is a recombinant of earlier subvariants that appears to bind better to cells, allowing for greater spread.
“At this time there is no indication that XBB.1.5 is more serious. But I think it’s a really good time for people to do the things that we’ve been saying for a while are the best ways to protect themselves,” Mahon told CBS News.
That CDC’s COVID-19 data tracker shows that XBB 1.5 accounts for an estimated 19% of cases in the southeastern United States. However, it accounts for over 70% of cases in the Northeast. Puerto Rico is also seeing higher cases related to XBB 1.5.
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