XBB variant

Amid the Covid scare in China, a message is circulating on WhatsApp warning that the XBB subvariant of Omicron is deadlier than Delta. The health ministry ...

The health ministry has busted this post as fake and misleading. [By India Today Web Desk](/author/india-today-web-desk): In light of the surge in Covid-19 cases in China and other countries, the Indian government has sounded the alert. It also warns that its symptoms are significantly different from other subvariants.

covid, china covid, XBB variant, BF.7 variant, Image Source : FILE PHOTO/PTI The Indian govt is on alert following huge surge in Covid cases in China.

Some scientists have warned that the unchecked spread of COVID-19 in China could spur the emergence of new variants, which might unravel progress made globally to contain the pandemic. “WHO is very concerned over the evolving situation in China with increasing reports of severe disease,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a press briefing. Also, the XBB variant is not new and was first reported on August 13 this year.

In a statement, the Ministry of Health secretary Rajesh Bhushan said that "the public health challenge of Covid-19 still persists around the world with ...

[Bangalore](https://indianexpress.com/section/cities/bangalore/) affirmed that only in “infection-naïve or vaccination-naïve areas”, the cases may be significant. It is the need of the hour for everyone to get vaccinated and get a booster shot too. Dr Patil mentioned, “With the life normalising and the Covid restrictions loosening, any such new variant is bound to cause at least a transient surge in the affected population. It is only that we should not be caught off-guard and, hence, the authorities will definitely take transient steps to increase the number of testing and genome sequencing to diagnose any surge in cases and hospitalisation with new variants. The pandemic is still a matter of concern and one needs to be cautious. “Talking specifically about China, which is very stringent about its ‘Zero Covid’ policy, this has probably back-fired as most of the population affected by the new variant are those not immune (not having sufficient antibody titers in the blood),” he added “So, at present, it seems unlikely that the newer variant will create fatal infections in India,” Dr Jha told [indianexpress.com](https://indianexpress.com). To be specific about the BF.7 variant, in due course of time the viruses mutate as they survive in nature, thus, creating their lineages (as a family tree with the SARS COV 2 diagnosed in December 2019 as the trunk of the tree and the variants as branches and sub-branches ). [Omicron](https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/covid-variant-south-africa-explained-7642199/) subvariant [BF.7](https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-health/covid-bf-7-omicron-sub-variant-china-virus-8337055/), have been detected in India so far, according to a PTI report. Additionally, there are various reports also suggesting that the XBB variant, which is a recombinant — a combination of two lineages (BJ.1 and BA.2.75) and “highly infectious”, could make India worried. World Health Organization (WHO) director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus also said that “WHO is very concerned over the evolving situation in China”. India has been reporting a “steady decline” in Covid-19 cases, with the average number around 129 with daily positivity rate at 0.01 per cent, as of December 22, according to MyGov.in.

A widely circulated post claims that Omicron XBB Variant is deadlier than all other variants and it cannot be detected through RT-PCR tests.

XBB is just one of the many Omicron subvariants that include BA.5, BA.2.75, BJ.1, and BA.4.6. XBB is nothing more than a subvariant of Omicron. 5, the dominant subvariant, XBB, another ascendant lineage of BA. Globally, the BA. 5 ascendant lineages of Omicron have the most cases (73%) followed by BA. However, there is no evidence to support this. The widely circulated post also states that it cannot be detected through RT-PCR tests and has no obvious symptoms. - COVID-Omicron XBB is 5 times more virulent than the Delta variant and has a higher mortality rate than it. - There is no fever - Everyone is advised to wear a mask because the new variant of the COVID-Omicron XBB coronavirus is different, deadly and not easy to detect correctly. - There is no cough In other words – XBB is a mix of the BA.2.10.1 and BA.2.75 subvariants.

Amid the sudden Covid scare that has erupted across many countries, a WhatsApp message has been making its rounds claiming that the newly discovered XBB ...

The viral message claims that "the new variant of the Covid-Omicron XBB coronavirus is different, deadly and not easy to detect correctly. The meeting was attended by Minister of State Health Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar, Member (Health) NITI Aayog, Dr V.K. "This message circulating in many WhatsApp groups regarding XXB variant of Covid 19 is FAKE and Misleading", said the health ministry on Thursday. Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Wednesday chaired a high-level meeting to review the Covid-19 situation in India and preparedness of the public health system for surveillance, containment and management of the virus in view of the recent spike in cases in some countries. "Covid-Omicron XBB is 5 times more virulent than the Delta variant and has a higher mortality rate than it," the viral message claims further. The symptoms of the new virus Covid-Omicron XBB are - there is no cough and there is no fever."

కొవిడ్ ఒమిక్రాన్ ఎక్స్‌బీబీ కరోనా వైరస్ కొత్త వేరియంట్ ప్రారంభమైందని.. ప్రాణాంతకమని.

దాన్ని గుర్తించడం అంత సులభమేమీ కాదంటూ సోషల్ మీడియాలో ఓ న్యూస్ తెగ వైరల్ అవుతోంది. కాబట్టి మరింత జాగ్రత్తగా ఉండాలంటూ సూచిస్తున్న న్యూస్ వైరల్ అవుతోంది. ప్రజల్లో అలజడి సృష్టించేందుకు తప్పుడు ప్రచారం చేస్తున్నారని ఆరోగ్య శాఖ తెలిపింది. వ్యాప్తి ఎక్కువగా చెందుతోంది అంటూ వస్తున్న మెసేజ్లను నమ్మొద్దని సూచించింది. కోవిడ్ XBB వేరియంట్పై వస్తున్న వార్తలను నమ్మొద్దని ప్రజలకు పిలుపునిచ్చింది. దీనిపై నేడు కేంద్ర ఆరోగ్య శాఖ స్పందించింది.

The health ministry shared detailed information about the latest coronavirus variant and called it "fake" and "misleading."

Of these, BA.2 and BA.5 proved to be stronger than the rest. One death was recorded over the last 24 hours. There is a lot of misinformation spreading on the internet. The Ministry of Health took to Twitter to debunk a particular message about the Covid XBB variant. BA.5.1.7 and BF.7 are names given to downstream descendants of BA.5." "Everyone is advised to wear a mask because the new variant of the COVID-Omicron XBB coronavirus is different, deadly and not easy to detect correctly," it says.

"This message is circulating in some WhatsApp groups regarding XBB variant of #COVID19. The message is #fake and #misleading," the Ministry of Health ...

[WHO](https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/health/world-health-organization-maria-van-kerkhove-covid-19-xe-variant-concern-virus-7857649/), there is no data to support that XBB is more serious than Omicron. The current data doesn’t suggest that XBB is more deadly than [Omicron ](https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/health/new-omicron-subvariant-all-you-want-to-know-8027409/)which, in turn, is much less lethal than the Delta variant.” However, at present, a recombinant variant [XBB ](https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/health/xbb-cases-surge-experts-advise-caution-new-class-omicron-variant-precaution-safety-india-8216158/)is the most common variant in India, accounting for 65.6% of all cases in November. Early analysis suggests that this variant is more transmissible than other subvariants of Omicron but has less severity,” he said. WHO-TAGVE does not feel that overall XBB diverge sufficiently from omicron with additional escape mutations in terms of public health response to warrant the designation of a new variant of concern. However, we have no evidence to suggest there’s a significant difference between it and its parent lineage of Omicron. “It has led to a surge in hospitalisation in [ a sudden spurt in cases of Covid-19 globally ](https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/health/covid-omicron-bf-7-china-cases-xbb-variants-cases-reports-india-experts-symptoms-vaccination-china-cases-8338117/)driven by the BF.7 strain of the Omicron variant, which has also been detected in four Indian states over the last six months, there has been a growing concern about a possible new wave in the country. It takes less time for the condition to reach extreme severity and sometimes there are no obvious symptoms.” Several patients diagnosed with Covid-Omicron XBB were classified as afebrile and pain-free, but x-rays showed mild chest pneumonia. “This strain of the virus is not found in the nasopharyngeal region and directly affects the lungs for a relatively short period of time. [pneumonia ](https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/health/pneumonia-infectious-viral-disease-symotoms-causes-prevention-treatment-expert-8296485/)and lack of appetite.

XBB is the dominant variant in India now. But in most people it will cause no more than a fever, cough, and cold. Even case counts have been low — only 158 ...

In most people, the XBB variant is likely to lead to a fever, cough, and cold — and most people are not even getting tested now. If XBB had the potential to drive a surge in cases, hospitalisations, and deaths, some indications would be visible by now. The virus can go into the lungs in some cases, but it is not the location of choice for the variant. XBB follows a disease pattern that is similar to its forbear Omicron variants. An analysis by an expert group of the World Health Organisation (WHO) in October said, “There has been a broad increase in prevalence of XBB in regional genomic surveillance… What this essentially means is that the variant is more likely to cause re-infection or breakthrough infections in people.

The health ministry released specific details regarding the newest coronavirus variety, describing it as "false" and "misleading."

[Mansukh Mandaviya](/topic/mansukh-mandaviya)convened a high-level meeting on Wednesday to examine the Covid-19 situation in [India](/topic/india)and the public health system's readiness for monitoring, containment, and management of the virus in light of the recent surge in cases in several countries. Bharati Pravin Pawar, Minister of State for Health, Dr. [Cos Fret Over Ripple Effect of New Covid Wave in China](/epaper/delhicapital/2022/dec/22/et-front/cos-fret-over-ripple-effect-of-new-covid-wave-in-china/articleshow/96408533.cms) It also advises that its symptoms differ greatly from those of other sub variants. Dr. [XBB](/topic/xbb)subvariant of [Omicron](/topic/omicron)is five times more virulent and has a greater fatality rate than the Delta variant.

Amid a surge in COVID-19 cases worldwide, several fake and misleading information is being circulated on the internet. Reacting to one such piece of ...

"This wave of Covid-Omicron XBB is deadlier than the first wave of Covid-19. We are committed to tackling the pandemic and are taking appropriate steps," Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said in his statement in the Lok Sabha while advising the States to make sure that people wear masks, use sanitizers and maintain social distancing even during the festive and the New Year season. The spike is being blamed on the new Omicron sub-variant BF.7, which has also been detected in four Indian states. This strain of the virus is not found in the nasopharyngeal region and directly affects the lungs for a relatively short period of time. This explains why the Covid-Omicron XBB has become something very contagious, highly virulent and lethal. It takes less time for the condition to reach extreme severity and sometimes there are no obvious symptoms."

Coronavirus Update: केंद्रीय स्वास्थ मंत्रालय ने वायरल हो रहे इस मैसेज को फेक और गलत बताया है।

India's Ministry of Health on Thursday took to social media to call out a fake message about the XBB Covid-19 variant that has been circulating over soc..

It advised people to consult the doctor in case of any symptoms. "Infected people will not get cough or have fever", but will exhibit a limited number of other symptoms such as "joint pain, headache, pain in the neck, upper back pain, pneumonia, and lack of appetite". "This message is circulating in some WhatsApp groups regarding the XBB variant of Covid-19.