WHO: Dangerous omicron "octopuses" are spreading in Europe - restrictions not inappropriate
Created: 2023-01-10Updated: 2023-01-10 7:31 p.m
By: Markus Hofstetter
The Omikron sub-line XBB.1.5 is on the rise worldwide.
Also because it is considered more infectious than other variants, it was given the nickname "Kraken".
Update from January 10th:
Now the WHO has spoken out again about the spreading new omicron subline XBB.1.5.
This is therefore also on the rise in Europe.
Recent data from some countries in the region were beginning to point to the increasing presence of XBB.1.5, WHO Regional Office Europe Director Hans Kluge said at an online press conference in Copenhagen on Tuesday.
Cases would be discovered in small but growing numbers.
We are working to assess the potential impact of this.
After three long years of the pandemic, one cannot afford any further pressure on the health systems.
With regard to the aggravated corona situation in China, Kluge shared the current assessment of the EU health authority ECDC that the increase in the number of cases there is unlikely to have a major impact on the epidemiological situation in Europe.
According to available information, the variants circulating in China are those that have been seen in Europe and elsewhere.
However, one should not become complacent, said Kluge.
It is not unreasonable for countries to take precautionary measures to protect their populations.
However, states that introduce precautionary travel measures should ensure that these are science-based, appropriate and non-discriminatory.
Dangerous Omicron "Kraken": XBB.1.5 "most contagious subvariant discovered so far"
First report from January 9th:
Munich - Starting from North America, the subline XBB.1.5 of the Corona variant Omicron is spreading further and further.
What makes the mutant so dangerous: It is considered to be much more contagious than the other variants.
According to Maria Van Kerkhove, director of the World Health Organization (WHO) program to combat the coronavirus pandemic, it is the "most contagious subvariant discovered to date".
Omicron subvariant XBB.1.5: Nicknamed "Kraken" due to high infectivity
The extremely high infectivity led to an inglorious nickname of XBB.1.5.
Canadian biology professor T. Ryan Gregory suggested the name "octopus" (the octopus, also the giant octopus) on Twitter.
Apparently, the nickname caught on so well that it's since become commonplace.
Omicron subvariant "Kraken": frequency of XBB.1.5 doubles every week
According to the Robert Koch Institute, "Kraken" was detected for the first time in a random sample in Germany at the end of November last year.
According to the EU health authority ECDC, it could have an increasing impact on the number of corona cases in Europe, but not within the next month, as it is currently only occurring on a small scale.
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According to Richard Neher, head of the Evolution of Viruses and Bacteria research group at the Biozentrum of the University of Basel, the frequency of XBB.1.5 has doubled about every week.
However, the base is small.
If this trend continues, a share of three to six percent can be expected in the first half of January.
The Omicron variant XBB.1.5 is considered to be particularly contagious © Christian Ohde/imago
Omicron subvariant "Kraken": XBB.1.5 could spread in Germany in the coming weeks and months
However, according to other experts, XBB.1.5 could spread in Europe and Germany in the coming weeks and months.
"One can say with some prognostic certainty that the variant will also become the dominant variant for us," said the Bremen epidemiologist Hajo Zeeb.
But there is no cause for great concern.
“We are seeing a little more cases in the USA, but there is no gigantic wave going on there.” Zeeb also sees an even higher infectivity with XBB.1.5.
"It had already been developed at Omikron, and now XBB.1.5 tops it again."
Omicron subvariant "Kraken": Development in Germany should be closely monitored
And what does the subline mean specifically for Germany?
Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) has already expressed concern about XBB.1.5.
Last week he tweeted: "Hopefully we can get through the winter before such a variant can spread to us."
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The fear is substantiated by Zeeb: "XBB.1.5 is encountering a decreasing immunity of people whose vaccination or infection was a long time ago." However, the number of XBB.1.5 detections in Germany is currently still very low.
"You don't have to think about new measures yet." It is important to monitor developments closely.
Luka Cicin-Sain, virologist at the Helmholtz Center for Infection Research, on the other hand, recommends a booster vaccination with vaccines adapted to Omicron for all those at risk and for seniors.
This could also help against "kraken".