From December 23, 2022
COVID-19 Update: Omicron XBB Variant Rapidly Spreading in US
Omicron variant XBB is rapidly spreading in the US, and now accounts for 18% of cases nationwide. XBB first emerged in the northeastern US, where it quickly outcompeted other variants and has recently come to predominate. All other Omicron variants circulating in the US are stable or declining in prevalence, including the BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 (BQ.1x) variants. See HERE Health experts believe that XBB and BQ.1x are the most infectious Omicron variants yet observed, and may rival measles in regard to extremely high levels of contagiousness. Although vaccination cannot prevent infection, recent CDC studies have shown the bivalent booster to be effective at preventing severe disease and hospitalization for both XBB and BQ.1x variants. See HERE A recent laboratory study has demonstrated that the bivalent booster stimulates notably higher levels of protective antibodies than the former monovalent boosters alone. See HERE
Original source can be found here.
