Six cases of Omicron sub-variant XBB reported in Karachi

Six cases of Omicron sub-variant XBB reported in Karachi

Six cases of Omicron sub-variant XBB reported in Karachi

KARACHI (Web Desk) - At least six cases of Omicron sub-variant XBB have been reported in the provincial capital on Wednesday, an official of the Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) was quoted as having said.

The Covid variant is said to be highly-contagious.

“The AKUH has detected six cases, however, others have been found around the country since November,” AKUH Infectious Diseases Section Head Dr Faisal Mehmood told a media outlet.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the XBB is a highly contagious sub-variant of Covid-19’s Omicron strain. As per early evidence, the XBB variant had a higher reinfection risk, as compared to other circulating Omicron sublineages.

A US Centres for Disease Control (CDC)’s statement said on Dec 31 that around 40pc of confirmed US Covid-19 cases were caused by the XBB.1.5 strain, a relative strain of the XBB variant.