COVID-19: NEW VARIANT XBB.1.16 CAUSES INCREASED INFECTIONS IN ASIA

Like other viruses, SARS-CoV-2 is constantly evolving due to changes in its genome, creating strains and variants. The recently discovered variant XBB.1.16 is responsible for the increase in infections in several Asian countries. Fortunately, this new variant has not been reported to increase the severity of the disease. However, experts are still not lowering the level of warning and calling on people to comply with anti-COVID-19 measures.

Learn about variants and mutants

Changes in the nature of the genome are called variants, these variants will have further changes before stabilizing to become new strains. After the microbial genome changes to the extent that it has specific, clear manifestations different from the original strain, it is called a "variant". At this point, the microorganism has changed its genome and formed a new strain different from the original strain.

There are mutations that make the virus more difficult to spread or even die out, but mutations that help the virus penetrate and spread faster. These mutations will survive and gradually replace the original virus strains. Currently, Omicron is the most common circulating strain of SARS-CoV-2. There are many different mutations of the Omicron strain that have been discovered. There is one variant that the World Health Organization classifies as a variant of concern, XBB.1.5.

How to classify variants

SARS-CoV-2 variants are classified into 4 types: Variants of interest, variants of concern, variants being monitored (UMs), and variants of high consequence (VOHC).

Variants of concern (VOIs) and variants under surveillance (VUMs) of SARS-CoV-2 virus

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) weekly report on COVID-19 epidemiological information [5], from March 13, 2023 to April 9, 2023 (28 days), 49,809 SARS-CoV-2 variants have been recorded worldwide. Currently, WHO is monitoring 1 variant of concern (VOI) XBB.1.5, and 7 monitored variants (VUMs) and their variant lines.

Globally, XBB.1.5 has been detected in 95 countries and remains the most prevalent variant, accounting for nearly 48% of cases in week 12. This is up from 40% in week 8 of 2023. Between February 11, 2023 and March 12, 2023, XBB.1.5 was detected in 70 countries. The prevalence of XBB.1.5 exceeded 50% in 11 countries.

In Ho Chi Minh City, after conducting SARS-CoV-2 gene sequencing from positive patients from January 11, 2023 to March 20, 2023, 1 sample was recorded as variant XBB.1.5. Thus, the variant that is currently popular in the world has appeared in Ho Chi Minh City. On April 14, the Ministry of Health also announced that variant XBB.1.5 appeared in Vietnam through gene sequencing results in Ho Chi Minh City.

There are currently no laboratory or international reports linking VOI and VUM strains to more severe COVID-19 disease globally. A recent laboratory study of XBB.1.16 showed that this variant has a higher growth rate than XBB and XBB.1.5. However, their immune-evading properties remain similar.

Currently, the Ho Chi Minh City Center for Disease Control (HCDC) is organizing COVID-19 vaccination for people. If you need to be vaccinated, please see the schedule of vaccination locations and vaccination dates on the HCDC website.

Vaccination sites

Source: HCDC