CDC Tracking New COVID-19 Subvariant

According to U.S. News and World Report, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has added to its COVID-19 variant tracking list a new subvariant, which is responsible for a recent increase in cases nationwide.

The CDC reported that the new Omicron subvariant XBB.1.16 accounted for 7.2% of new COVID-19 infections last week—4% up from the previous week’s cases.

Another subvariant—Omicron subvariant XBB.1.9.1—was directly behind the new subvariant, with 6.5% attributable infections.

In its weekly COVID-19 tracker review, the CDC stated, “SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is constantly changing and accumulating mutations in its genetic code over time. New variants of SARS-CoV-2 are expected to continue to emerge. Some variants will emerge and disappear, while others will emerge and continue to spread and may replace previous variants.”

“XBB.1.5 became the dominant lineage over the past few months, but it is now starting to wane as other lineages rise. Newer lineages like XBB.1.9.2 and XBB.1.16, both close relatives of XBB.1.5, are starting to rise and could displace XBB.1.5.”

The CDC also noted, “Projections for an emerging lineage with a high growth rate may have a higher degree of uncertainty (wider predictive interval) when it is just beginning to spread and still has low weighted estimates. Projections may also be biased during times of delayed reporting (e.g., around holidays).”